Tierkreis

Tierkreis

Tierkreis (1974–75) is a composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen. The composition consists of twelve melodies, each representing one sign of the zodiac. Bruno’s arrangement of Tierkreis for sextet will be coming out on the Babel Label in March 2013, featuring:

James Allsopp – Bass Clarinet
Fulvio Sigurta – Trumpet
Tom Challenger – Tenor Sax
Andrea Di Biase – Bass
Jon Scott – Drums

Stockhausen’s most popular composition, Tierkreis was originally written for music boxes as a component part of a theatre piece for percussion sextet titled Musik im Bauch (“Music in the Belly”). These twelve melodies (with or without their accompaniments) form an autonomous work which can be played by any suitable instrument, and exist also in versions to be sung. Each melody is centred on a different chromatic pitch, with “Leo” (Stockhausen’s own sign) = A, Virgo = A♯, Libra = B, Scorpio = C, etc., and each has its own distinctive tempo, chosen from the “chromatic” tempo scale first described in the composer’s famous article, “… How Time Passes …” (Stockhausen 1957). A complete performance begins with the melody corresponding to the zodiac sign within which the day of the performance falls, and proceeds through the twelve melodies of the cycle, ending with a return to the starting melody.

Four of the original music boxes have been in Bruno’s family since he was born which started his fascination with the piece. Incorporating the boxes in the performance, Bruno premiered the arrangement at the Vortex Jazz Club. In 2010 Bruno re-arranged the piece for cello, double bass and piano for a performance with cellist Ulrich Heinen at the CBSO centre in Birmingham as part of the CBSO chamber music series.

Listen

  • Scorpio - by Stockhausen. arrangement Bruno Heinen

    Bruno Heinen – Piano
    Shabaka Hutchings – Bass Clarinet
    Tom Challenger – Sax
    Fulvio Sigurtà – Trumpet
    Andrea Di Biase – Bass
    Jon Scott – Drums

  • Pisces - by Stockhausen. arrangement Bruno Heinen

    Tom Challenger – Sax
    Shabaka Hutchings – Bass Clarinet

  • Aquarius - by Stockhausen. arrangement Bruno Heinen

    Fulvio Sigurtà – Trumpet
    Shabaka Hutchings – Bass Clarinet
    Andrea Di Biase – Bass
    Jon Scott – Drums
    Bruno Heinen – Piano

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