Instrumentation: for chamber orchestra
Werner Wehrli (1892-1944) was one of the most renowned interwar Swiss composers. His multifaceted body of work encompasses every musical genre and spans opera and pieces for educational use. After training in Zurich, Berlin, Frankfurt and Basel, Wehrli returned to his hometown of Aarau and developed an interest in a myriad of activities, including directing and music teaching. In 1921, Wehrli composed a piano cycle comprising 22 poetic miniatures after a trip to the Säntis mountain area of Switzerland. Colourful travel impressions were the result, each one laying testament to the composer's bond with nature and "can only be compared in their richness of reproduced sentiment to the corresponding compositions by impressionistic musicians." (Walter Labhart). This instrumentation comprises eight pieces to form a cycle for chamber orchestra, whereby the number of instruments has been purposefully reduced to six (simple woodwind section, horn and trumpet) to increase performance possibilities. A relatively comprehensive percussion part (which can be mastered by a single player) additionally accentuates the colourations found in the piano part in the orchestral version.
Can also be performed by an amateur orchestra.
Duration: 11' 00"
Nepomuk Musik Verlag