zeroPoints
for orchestra
Commissioned by London Symphony Orchestra, Kölner Philharmonie, Théâtre des Champs Elysées,
Carnegie Hall, Societé Philharmonique de Bruxelles,
Musikfestwochen Luzern, Edinburgh International Festival for Boulez 2000
Description
First performance: 27 February 2000, London
London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Towards the zeroPoints
I wrote this orchestral piece on commission for the London Symphony Orchestra and Pierre Boulez in 2000. It is an unusual task, a special honour for a composer-conductor to write music for another composer-conductor.
Since the eighties I have often conducted Boulez´Domaines, and I still wonder why he begins bar-numbering with O instead of the accustomed 1. Out of respect for the master I dared only aim at the interspace between 0 and 1, thus the titles of the movements run from 0.1, 0.2, … to 0.9, without ever reaching the number 1.
zeroPoints has other personal associations as well. Nostalgic memories bind me to the audio recordings of the fifties and sixties – the years of my childhood – which formed and determined my musical thinking in a fundamental way. Technical noise was a natural by-product of recording, of the audio technology of that time. These sound-memories appear in several of my works – for example, the hissing and crackling of old LPs at the end of the movements of Atlantis. The “LP-noise” imitation at the beginning of zeroPoints derives from the same source – but today, in the age of faultless technology, it had to be produced artificially, using double-bass tremolos. The clarinet signals that start the piece correspond to the 1kHz countdown sinus signals used in film music recordings.
This, too, leads to the zero point: 3-2-1-0, and thus music starts from zero…
/Peter Eötvös/
Performances
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Speaking drums, Per Luciano Berio
National Philharmonic Orchestra, Hungary
Martin Grubinger, percussion
Müpa Budapest
zeroPoints
Staatskapelle Dresden
Lionel Bringuier, conductor
Venue: Semperoper, Dresden
zeroPoints
Staatskapelle Dresden
Lionel Bringuier, conductor
Venue: Semperoper, Dresden
zeroPoints
Staatskapelle Dresden
Lionel Bringuier, conductor
Venue: Semperoper, Dresden
Eötvös: ZeroPoints
Tonhalle Zürich
cond: Lionel Bringuier
Eötvös: ZeroPoints
Tonhalle Zürich
cond: Lionel Bringuier
Eötvös: Speaking Drums, zeroPoints
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Martin Grubinger, percussion
Peter Eötvös, conductor
Eötvös: Speaking Drums, zeroPoints
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Martin Grubinger, percussion
Peter Eötvös, conductor
Eötvös: Speaking Drums, zeroPoints
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Martin Grubinger, percussion,
Peter Eötvös, conductor
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Philharmonique Orchestra Radio France
Manifeste festival IRCAM
Eötvös: Speaking drums, The gliding of the eagle in the skies, zeroPoints
NHK Orchestra
Martin Grubinger, percussion
cond.: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Cello Concerto Grosso
Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
vcl.: Eric-Maria Couturier
Eötvös: zeroPoints
SWR Sinfonieorchester
conductor: François-Xavier Roth
Wiener Konzerthaus
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Orchestra la Scala Milano
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Cello Concerto Grosso
Toronto Symphony - New Creations festival
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Joseph Johnson, violoncello
Eötvös portrait concert
BBC London
Paris-Dakar
Octet Plus
Derwischtanz
Sonata per sei
Psalm 151
Guildhall Ensemble, cond. Richard Baker
zeroPoints
Psychokosmos (Miklos Lukács, cimbalom)
Levitation (Richard Hosford, John Bradbury clarinets)
IMA (BBCSC + BBC Singers)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, cond. Peter Eötvös
Films:
"The Seventh Door" - portrait film
"Three sisters" - opera film
Barbican Center
Eötvös: zeroPoints
DSO Berlin
Cond: Wolfgang Lischke
Ultraschallfestival
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Staatstheater Hannover
Conductor: André de Ridder
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Staatstheater Hannover
Conductor: André de Ridder
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zsolt Nagy
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Luxemburg Philh. Orch.
conductor: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Montreal Symph. Orch.
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Montreal Symph. Orch.
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Sao Paulo City Symphony Orch.
Cond: Pedro Amaral
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Jet Stream
3-12 September, German tour 9 concerts
Junge Deutsche Philh.
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Jet Stream
Philharmonic de Radio France
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Cond: Gergely Vajda
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Bartók: Four orch. pieces Op. 12
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau
Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Bartók: Four orch. pieces Op. 12
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau
Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Bartók: Four orch. pieces Op. 12
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau
Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Jet Stream
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Jet Stream (Markus Stockhausen)
Debussy: Jeux
Debussy: La mer
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Budapest Spring Festival
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Bartók: Violin concerto Nr. 2 (György Pauk)
Stravinsky: Petroushka (1947)
Wiener Symphoniker
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Bartók: Violin concerto Nr. 2 (György Pauk)
Stravinsky: Petroushka (1947)
Wiener Symphoniker
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Ligeti: Lontano
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Kurtág: Stele
Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin
Münich Philharmonic Orchestra
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Ligeti: Lontano
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Kurtág: Stele
Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin
Münich Philharmonic Orchestra
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Ligeti: Lontano
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Kurtág: Stele
Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin
Münich Philharmonic Orchestra
Cond: Péter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Jet Stream, Atlantis
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Jet Stream (Markus Stockhausen)
Eötvös: Atlantis
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic
Cond: Péter Eötvös
New Music Festival, February 17-21
Eötvös: zeroPoints, Jet Stream
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Eötvös: Jet Stream - new trumpet concerto premiere (Markus Stockhausen)
Debussy: Jeux
Debussy: La mer
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Eötvös: ZeroPoints
Ars Musica
Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orch.
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Göteborg Symphony Orchestra
Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Göteborg Symphony Orchestra
Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
4-6 February
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Eötvös: zeroPoints
first performance
London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Pierre Boulez
Details
Publisher information
Edition Schott Music Mainz
Orchestration
2 Piccolos
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
Cor anglais
3 Clarinets ( 1st in Bb, 2nd in A, 3 rd in Eb)
Bass clarinet in Bb
2 Bassoons
Contra bassoon
Soprano saxophone
Tenor saxophone
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
Piccolo trumpet
2 Trombones ( with quarter valve)
Bass trombone
Tuba
Percussion (5 players):
I (left)
Bass drum
Vibraphone
Cymbal (low)
Tamtam (very low)
Metal chimes ( whisper chimes)
Steeldrum (middle “exotic” tuning, 6 different pitches not determinated)
Triangle (very high)
II (centre):
1 Timpano
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Tubular bells
Cymbal (middle)
Tamtam (low)
Steeldrum (high “exotic” tuning, 6 different pitches not determinated)
Triangle (very high)
III (centre):
3 Timpani
2 Sleigh bells (high, very high)
IV (centre):
1 Timpano
Marimba (one instrument for 4th and 5th player)
Glockenspiel
Tubular bells
Cymbal (middle)
Tamtam (low)
Steeldrum (high “exotic” tuning, 6 different pitches not determinated)
Triangle (high)
V (right):
Bass drum
Marimba (one instrument for 4th and 5th player)
Glockenspiel
Cymbal (low)
Tamtam (middle)
1 Crotalo
Steeldrum (middle “exotic” tuning, 6 different pitches not determinated)
Triangle (high)
2 Harps
1 Celesta, doubling sampler-keyboard
14 Violins I (ossia: 12)
12 Violins II ( ossia: 10)
10 Violas ( ossia: 8)
10 Violoncellos ( ossia: 6)
8 Double basses ( ossia: 4)
Note for the steel drums:
Please do not use any low instruments. Since each instrument is built differently, the notation allows you to play the pitches „freely”, but you should keep
the indicated pitch progression (up, down).
,,Exotic tuning” means that one does not choose ,,European” major or minor chords, but a mixture of major seconds, thirds, fourths and tritoni.
The 6 pitches must be determined by each individual player. In order to avoid unisononi, the 4 players should tune the lowest note among themselves,
then the next higher one etc. lt sounds most beautiful when rich, four-tone chords are created.
Please use original steeldrum mallets (small and light), never vibraphone mallets. Never strike too loud.
If possible, the 4 players should be as far away from each other as possible – only the timpani should be positioned in the middle.
Technical information
The pianist plays on Master Keyboard and celesta.
Needed equipment:
Master Keyboard with KONTAKT Computer Program
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The sound material is available for download
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Sound
Recordings
Further information
Peter Eötvös verfolgt in seinem Orchesterstück zeroPoints zwei zentrale Motive, die in persönlichen Erinnerungen wurzeln. Als ein Auftragswerk für das London Symphony Orchestra und Pierre Boulez ist zeroPoints vor allem eine Art Hommage an den großen Komponisten, Dirigenten und Kollegen Boulez:
„Es ist eine unübliche Aufgabe, in gewisser Weise eine besondere Ehre für einen Komponisten-Dirigenten, ein Stück für einen anderen Komponisten-Dirigenten zu schreiben. Seit den 1980er Jahren habe ich des öfteren Boulez’ Domaines dirigiert, und immer wieder frage ich mich, warum er hier die Taktzählung mit einer Null anstelle der gewohnten Eins beginnt. Aus Respekt vor dem Meister wagte ich daher nur, den Raum zwischen Null und Eins anzuvisieren, daher führen die Titel der einzelnen Sätze in zeroPoints von 0.1, 0.2 bis 0.9, ohne je die Zahl Eins zu erreichen.“