Kraft: Settings From Pierrot Lunaire

Description

As part of the Arnold Schoenberg Institute's celebration of the 75th anniversary of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, Kraft was asked to write for the same Pierrot ensemble, choosing text from the 29 unused poems of Albert Giraud's original cycle. Kraft set about writing movements based on Feerie, Mein Bruder, Harlequinade, and Selbstmord, with musical Interludes separating the movements, along with an extended Fantasmagoria preceding the concluding Selbstmord. in homage to Schoenberg, Kraft modified his own seven-tone environment to the master's 12-tone pallette, also using Schoenberg's speaking/singing style in the vocal line. Each of the first three movements was premiered at the Institute over successive years, 1988 through 1990. Selbstmord would premiere in Boston in 1991 by Musica Viva. Kraft also created an orchestration of the work over a five year period, 1990-1994. (Available on rental.)