Helmut Lachenmann: My Melodies

Featuring

Matthias Hermann
Helmut Lachenmann
Johann Jahn
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Miscellaneous

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Composition History

The inspiration for 'My Melodies' came from a 2008 opera rehearsal where the sound of eight horns, ranging from unison to total splitting, deeply impressed Lachenmann.

Composer Biography

Helmut Lachenmann, born in Stuttgart in 1935, studied piano, theory, and counterpoint before studying composition with Luigi Nono in Venice.

Compositional Technique

A unique playing technique in 'My Melodies' involves horn players pulling out tuning slides and blowing into them like panpipes, or even striking them.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Lachenmann's 'My Melodies' are not literal melodies, but rather reflect his unique compositional approach to the phenomenon of melody.

Recording & Production

This album includes bonus tracks, which are short excerpts from the concert recording of 'My Melodies', designed to highlight specific sounds and sequences described in the booklet.

Compositional Technique

Lachenmann's music often expands the tonal repertoire of instruments through innovative playing techniques, such as 'toneless' sounds like breathing, air, and hissing noises.

Interpretation

Carsten Duffin, a solo horn player with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, noted that playing Lachenmann's eight-note chords is challenging because horn players are disoriented without the familiar harmonic relationships of traditional chords.