in vain (Haas)

in vain is a 2000 composition for 24 instruments by Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas. It was premiered on October 29, 2000 by Sylvain Cambreling and the Klangforum Wien and lasts approximately 70 minutes.[1] The piece is one of Haas' best-known works.[2]

in vain
by Georg Friedrich Haas
PeriodContemporary
Composed2000
Durationc. 70 minutes
ScoringOrchestra
Premiere
DateOctober 29, 2000 (2000-10-29)
LocationFunkhaus Wallrafplatz, Cologne
ConductorSylvain Cambreling
PerformersKlangforum Wien

Background and composition

in vain was commissioned by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk for Sylvain Cambreling (to whom the work is dedicated) and Klangforum Wien.[1][3] Haas wrote the piece in response to the rise of the far-right in Austria.[4][5]

The piece deals extensively with microtonality.[1] The light levels in the hall are specified in the score; some sections of the piece are played in very bright light, and about twenty minutes are played in complete darkness.[1][5]

Instrumentation

The piece is scored for the following ensemble:[1][3]

Reception

Simon Rattle has hailed in vain as "one of the first masterpieces of the 21st century",[4][5] and the Austrian newspaper Die Presse has called it a "classic".[6] The piece was named the greatest work of art music since 2000 in a Classic Voice poll.[7]

In his 2007 book The Rest Is Noise, Alex Ross wrote that the piece "may mark a new departure in Austro-German music, joining spectral harmony to a vast Brucknerian structure".[8]

References
  1. "Haas - in vain for 24 instruments". Universal Edition. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  2. Fairman, Richard (2019-12-06). "What does a Bridget Riley painting sound like?". Financial Times. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. Haas, Georg Friedrich. in vain. 2000. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2000.
  4. "Contemporary composer: Georg Friedrich Haas". Gramophone. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  5. "Interview: Sir Simon Rattle talks about "in vain" by Georg Friedrich Haas". Digital Concert Hall. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  6. Weidringer, 04 08 2020 um 15:15 von Walter (2020-08-04). ""in vain": Klangtreppen ohne Ausweg". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  7. "A music referendum". Ricordi. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  8. Ross, Alex (2007). The Rest is Noise. New York, N.Y.: Picador. p. 590. ISBN 978-0-312-42771-9.
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