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Programme Note

METAMORFOSI Opus 4 (1954) – for strings

(The Introduction - “The spectrum………five fingers..” to be used ad lib):
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The spectrum of sound, the gesticulation – in short, the very nature of the strings – has always had a central place in my output, demonstrated by the numbers of string quartets, concertos with string soloist, chamber and solo works. The interest dates back to my school years, when I was fortunate to be able to compose for a cello-playing schoolmate and to accompy him on the piano. I discovered then the innumerable nuances of sound and playing varieties offered by just one bow, four strings and five fingers.
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"Metamorfosis" deals with just one metamorfosis, slowly changing the introductory motifs, instead of a set of variation-like, minor movements (As is the case for example with Hindemith´s “Symphonic Metamorphoses on a Theme by Weber”): the thematic ´core´ consists of an energetic, upward-striving figue (a minor second, a fifth, a minor second, a major second..), a motif that is varied in different ways, not unlike the classical sonata´s development section, leading always to more intensified culminations of dynamics, speed and density. The last climax, though, is followed by a strongly contrasting section of peaceful simplicity – seemingly a second movement directly connected to the former one, but in reality consisting of the original slowly modified motifs now suggesting a radically changed unity, a new atmosphere. A metamorphosis is completed..

Per Nørgård (1999)