“I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours. Only a prism can divide the colours and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener.” -Arvo Pärt
In addition to Messiaen’s masterpiece, you will hear Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel:
Spiegel im Spiegel was written in 1978. “Spiegel im Spiegel” in German literally can mean both “mirror in the mirror” as well as “mirrors in the mirror”, referring to an infinity mirror, which produces an infinity of images reflected by parallel plane mirrors: the tonic triads are endlessly repeated with small variations as if reflected back and forth.The structure of melody is made by couple of phrases characterized by the alternation between ascending and descending movement with the fulcrum on the note A. This piece was originally written for violin and piano but versions exists for Viola, Cello, double bass, clarinet, horn, flugelhorn, flute, bassoon, trombone, and percussion.
At Messiaenic Revelations, you will hear our very own David Hetherington perform Spiegel im Spiegel.
David’s thoughts on Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time
This amazing work has become very important to us since the beginning of Amici. We have performed it several times on our series and many times on tour each time with a different violinist. I find it fascinating to work on such an iconic piece with a new person each time. We are constantly finding new things about it and avoid just repeating our interpretation from the previous performance.
The fifth movement, “ Louange á I’Éternité de Jésus”, is one of the most moving pieces of music I have ever played. As with the rest of the Quartet it is religiously inspired but its transcendence is as much in the music itself as in the theme. Music is like this. Even if you don’t know what the underlying meaning is for the composer you can be transported by the music nonetheless. It is also the slowest piece I have ever played and by the end of it I am exhausted!” – David Hetherington
Founding Artistic Director, David Hetherington is an accomplished international cellist, teacher, and recording artist. Next year, he celebrates 30 years of making music with his friends at Amici!