L’ART DE PRELUDER

Throughout musical history, the Prelude has been a vehicle for composers to concentrate their own skill and that of the performer. The form has developed from an improvisatory work, deemed as an introduction, to a more substantial musical statement in its own right, often characterising a composer more succinctly. Such works are bestowed a name, an identity, and it is this path which I would like to present in this programme. Three composers (one of which an almost forgotten, but vitally important member of the French Baroque) Jacques Hotteterre, György Kurtag and Salvatore Sciarrino capture the essence of the prelude.

Jacques Hotteterre (le Romain) 1674 – 1763):

Rochers, je ne veux point que votre Echo fidelle
J’ay passé deux jours sans vous voir
Dans ces deserts paisibles
L’autre jour ma cloris

György Kurtàg:

Hommage a Bach
Auf!Schwung!
Apres un lecture du Rimbaud
Doloroso

Salvatore Sciarrino:

Lettera Degli antipodi portata dal vento
Venere che le grazie la fiorniscono
Fra i testi dedicati alle nubi
L’orizzonte luminoso di Aton
Hermes