Event overview
Schnittke's Compositional Method - as Revealed in the Juilliard Sketches
Many of the greatest works of Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) were the results of complex planning procedures. The esoteric serialism of his early years suggests sophisticated pre-compositional planning. Similarly, the polystylism for which he is best known required careful calculation to integrate the often disparate ideas. The works of his final years, however, are more intuitive, and seem to have been composed with greater fluency and freedom. This talk will trace the stages of Schnittke’s compositional career and examine evidence in the completed works for differing compositional strategies. It will also include discussion of the compositional sketches now held at the Juilliard Library. This collection pertains mainly to the works Schnittke composed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, an era when monograms and number ciphers were particularly important to his music. The collection therefore offers a valuable opportunity to observe how Schnittke applied these ideas, and the various calculations and experiments that took place before each work reached its final form.
The Music Research Series is designed to help postgraduate students advance their research and careers. The events stimulate exchange, hones skills, facilitates the creation of professional networks and helps to consolidate the department’s postgraduate community, all over a glass of wine! Attendance is strongly recommended for all postgraduate students (MA, MMus and PGR) in Music but of course undergraduates, music researchers, and visitors from across the college and the community are also most welcome to these public lectures.
Image: Alfred Schnittke
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 2016 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm |
Accessibility
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