stars buried deep

"Varga’s threnody to the pandemic

Re lavish orchestral brilliance, the program opened with the world premiere of Judit Varga’s “stars buried deep,” which, she says, was inspired by the pandemic and its victims. It begins with the silence of the abyss using pianissimo harmonics and subterranean grumbles. With waves of chordal structures, she gradually built up a spectrum of atmospheric phenomena in which a few quarter-tone slides helped create a shimmering dissonance. 

Throughout this intensely descriptive work, the moods continually shape-shifted, and as it came to a close, dense cluster chords in the strings slid downward toward their return to the abyss. Despite the sobering subject matter that inspired this piece, “stars buried deep” is a masterwork, an extremely radiant orchestral experience."

source: https://papageno.hu/english/eyes-and-ears-on-budapest/2023/05/a-luxe-and-lavish-orchestral-evening-with-luxembourgs-philharmonic/

*********

"My piece stars buried deep was commissioned by MüPa Budapest in 2022. It is undoubtedly music inspired by the pandemic. Besides its many negative aspects, the pandemic has taught us that the world we take so much for granted can collapse in an instant. The title of the piece (stars buried deep) is also a reference to the victims of COVID19.

For me, writing an orchestral piece is like painting on a large canvas. First I sketch the proportions, then I spend many hours refining the figures. I blend colours, draw fine and thick lines, and as a final touch I add fine details, light and contrast.

My new orchestral composition, stars buried deep, paints a vast imaginary landscape in time and sound. You can almost feel this slow mass, which is born almost out of nowhere in front of your eyes (or ears), slowly moving, growing huge and finally collapsing with a huge bang.

Commissioned by Müpa Budapest - Palace of Arts Nonprofit Ltd 2022"

Judit Varga