contents
1. listen
2. program notes
3. technical details
4. performances
listen
program notes
sacro monte for ensemble (1997) by Rozalie Hirs is a slow, contemplative music composition, meant to be performed in a large resonant space alike the basilica at Sacro Monte de Varallo Sesia, Italy. The ensemble plays long, sustained, and delicate chords, interspersed with pizzicati in the strings. Piano, glockenspiel and vibraphone occupy a central position with a continuously varying motive that is characterized by large intervallic leaps. Halfway through the piece, the violin takes the initiative with a solo, which is constructed from fast, high figures. As if you watch a peaceful mountainous landscape, when suddenly a solitary wanderer or cyclist passes by.
Rozalie Hirs’ sacro monte for ensemble (1997) was commissioned by La Nuova Arca, Turin, for the concert series ‘Il Suono dei Parchi’. During the Autumn of 2007, Ensemble Antidogma performed it at seven natural reserves in Piemonte, northern Italy. Seven composers, hailing from England, Italy, France and the Netherlands, each wrote one piece as a musical answer to their stay earlier that year in one of these reserves. The reserve that Rozalie Hirs visited was the Sacro Monte di Varallo Sesia, a pilgrimage site on top of a mountain, which includes a path with countless little shrines, inhabited by life-size terracotta statues.
technical details
commission
sacro monte (1997) by Rozalie Hirs was commissioned by La Nuova Arca, Turin, for the concert series ‘Il Suono dei Parchi’ in the Autumn of 1997.
instrumentation
flute
clarinet
French horn
percussion
piano
2 violins
viola
cello
double bass
duration
10′ ca.
publisher
All music scores by Rozalie Hirs are published by Deuss Music.
performances
6 October 2019, 16:00, KoncertKirken, Blågårds Plads, 2200 København, Denmark – Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen, Jean Thorel (conductor) – Danish première
10 November 2011, 12:30, Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Jan van Lieshoutstraat 3, Eindhoven, The Netherlands – F.C. Jongbloed, Arnold Marinissen (conductor)
9 November 2011, 12:30, November Music, MC De Toonzaal, Den Bosch, The Netherlands – F.C. Jongbloed, Arnold Marinissen (conductor)
3 November 2011, 12:30, Conservatoriumzaal, Fontys Conservatorium, Zwijsenplein 1, Tilburg, The Netherlands – F.C. Jongbloed, Arnold Marinissen (conductor)
15 September 2007, 20:00, Dreikönigskirche, Hauptstraße 23, Dresden, Germany – Ensemble Courage, Titus Engel (conductor)
10 April, 2007, 19:00, Konsertti Aboa Nova III, Sigyn-sali, Turku Music Academy, Finland – Musiikkiakatemia NYTT! Ensemble, Erkki Lahesmaa (conductor) – Finnish première
26 January 2003, 20:30, Holland Amerika Lijn, De Witte Dame, Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Ives Ensemble
23 January 2003, 20:30, Holland Amerika Lijn, De Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ives Ensemble
19 January 2003, 15:00, Holland Amerika Lijn, Theater Romein, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands – Ives Ensemble
17 January 2003, 20:30, Holland Amerika Lijn, Lantaren/Venster, Rotterdam. The Netherlands – Ives Ensemble
20 February 2000, 20:00, Columbia Composers‘ Concert, Miller Theater, New York, United States – Columbia Composers Ensemble, J.D. Hixson (conductor) – North American première
3 November 1999, (CD recording) Stadsgehoorzaal, Leiden, The Netherlands – Ives Ensemble
24 April 1999, 20:00, Concert IX, Concerten Tot En Met, Posthoornkerk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ensemble Insomnio – Netherlands première
5 October 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Parco Valgrande, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
4 October 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Parco Fluviale del Po e dell’Orba, Alessandria, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
3 October 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Basilica Sacro Monte, Parco Sacro Monte di Varallo Sesia, Vercelli, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
2 October 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Parco La Mandria, Torino, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
30 September 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Parco Sacro Monte di Orta, Novara, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
29 September 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Parco Burcina, Bessi, Biella, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor)
28 September 1997, 21:00, Il Suono dei Parchi, Auditorium del Centro Giovani, Via Goltieri 3, Asti, Italy – Antidogma Musica, Raffaele Mascolo (conductor) – world première