Stele (Kurtág)

Stele
by György Kurtág
György Kurtág, in 2002
Native name	ΣΤΉΛΗ
Catalogue	Op. 33
Genre	Contemporary
Composed	1993–1994 – Berlin
Dedication	Claudio Abbado Berlin Philharmonic
Performed	14 December 1994 – Berlin
Published	2003 – Budapest
Movements	3
Scoring	Large orchestra

Stele, Op. 33, sometimes also stylised in Greek capitals as ΣΤΉΛΗ (stēlē), is a composition for orchestra by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It was completed in 1994.

Composition

The composition was first conceived as a work for piano in 1993, which was dedicated to András Mihály. However, Kurtág completed the score for orchestra under the commission of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1994, while he was the composer-in-residence for the orchestra.^[1] The piece was first premiered in Berlin, on 14 December 1994, by the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado, both of these being the dedicatees.^[2] It was published later in 2003 by Editio Musica Budapest.^[2]

Structure

Stele is in three movements and takes up to thirteen minutes to perform.^[1] The three movements are kept untitled and are usually named by their tempo. All of the movements are meant to be played attacca. The movement list is as follows:

1. Larghissimo – Adagio
2. Lamentoso – Disperato, con moto. Nicht zu schnell aber wild, gehetzt, ungeduldig^[3]
3. Molto sostenuto

It is scored for a very large orchestra, consisting of 4 flutes, one alto flute, one bass flute, three oboes, one English horn, four clarinets in B-flat, one bass clarinet in B-flat, one contrabass clarinet in B-flat, three bassoons, one contrabassoon, four French horns, two tenor tubas in B-flat, two bass tubas in F, four trumpets in C, four trombones, one contrabass tuba, one cimbalom, two harps, one celesta, one grand piano, one upright piano, one marimba, one vibraphone, a large percussion section consisting of triangle, five cymbals, tam-tam, two bongos, two log drums, two bass drums, one snare drum, one tambourine, one whip, a set of bells, a set of timpani and a large string section.^[2]

The final version of the score also includes a 2006 addition to the ending of the score which changes the last bar of the last movement and adds four more bars, extending the last notes played by the instruments. So far, both endings are accepted, even though the first one is still recorded more frequently.^[2]

Recordings

• In December 1994, the dedicatees Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic recorded the piece under Deutsche Grammophon. It was recorded at Berlin's Großer Saal of the Philharmonie.^[4]

• On 26 November 1996, the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra recorded the piece with Michael Gielen with the RCA. The recording took place in the Konzerthaus Freiburg.^[5] This recording was later reissued by Hänssler.^[6]

References

1. "György Kurtág Stele, for orchestra, Op. 33". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
2. Varga, Bálint András (2009). György Kurtág: Three Interviews and Ligeti Homages. Rochester: University Rochester Press. p. 129. ISBN 9781580463287.
3. This Italian/German description roughly translates to "Desparate, in motion. Not too fast but wild, rushed (or "hounded"), impatient"
4. "Claudio Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Stockhausen: Gruppen; Kurtág: Grabstein für Stephan; Stele (CD – DG Deutsche Grammophon #4477612)". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
5. "Musik in Deutschland 1950–2000: Sinfonische Musik 1990–2000 Stele, for orchestra, Op. 33". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
6. "Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor "The Resurrection" Stele, for orchestra, Op. 33". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2015.