Wolfgang Rihm
Frau / Stimme
Short instrumentation: 4 0 4 0 - 4 4 4 0 - perc(7), hp(2), pno(2), vln(2), vc(6), cb(2)
Duration: 20'
Text von: Heiner Müller
Solos:
2 sopranos
Instrumentation details:
1st flute (+picc)
2nd flute (+picc)
3rd flute (+picc)
4th flute (+picc)
1st clarinet in Bb
2nd clarinet in Bb
3rd clarinet in Bb (+cl(A))
4th clarinet in Bb (+cl(Eb))
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trumpet in C
2nd trumpet in C
3rd trumpet in C (+picc.tpt in D)
4th trumpet in C (+picc.tpt in D)
1st trombone
2nd trombone
3rd trombone
4th trombone
percussion(7)
1st harp
2nd harp
1st piano (+e.org)
2nd piano (+cel)
violin(2)
violoncello(6)
contrabass(2)
Rihm - Frau / Stimme for soprano and orchestra with soprano
Printed/Digital
Translation, reprints and more
Wolfgang Rihm
Rihm: Frau / StimmeOrchestration: für Sopran und Orchester mit Sopran
Type: Partitur
Sample pages
Work introduction
"I am the Angel of Despair. My hands share out ecstasy, daze, oblivion, the body's lust and agony. My speech is Silence, my song is Scream. Terror dwells in the shadow of my wings. My hope is the last breath. My hope is the first battle. I am the knife with which the dead opens their coffin. I am that shall be. My flight is Revolt, my heaven the abyss of tomorrow."
These words are sung by two sopranos, one standing next to the conductor, the other in front of him, behind the clarinets and cellos or at the back of the orchestra, on a dais. A diagram in the score indicates the arrangement of the instrumental groups on stage and all round the hall. The latter include five percussion players, two trumpets and two violins.
The title of Wolfgang Rihm's composition Frau / Stimme and its very orthography stem from Heiner Müller's play Der Auftrag. Erinnerung an eine Revolution ("The Commission. Memories of a Revolution").