PRAHARPHONA SEXTET

Music from the Old and the New Prague

for solo harp, string quartet and percussion

(2009)

Movements:
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
- VI
- VII
-VIII

A selection of movements is possible, but the execution of the work in its entirety is preferable. The presence of a conductor is advised.

Original version: Praharphona, concerto for solo harp and orchestra (2009)

Duration: 25’

Commissioned by the Ensemble Calliopée (sextet version).

Instrumentation: solo harp, string quartet and percussion (1 musician)

Percussion in detail: tube bells whole set, medium tam-tam, bass tom-tom, snare drum, wood block, suspended cymbal, wash board, clapper, castanets, metal chimes, jingle bells, maracas, sand-block, chain, rattle, 2 pebbles (about 20 cm), vibraslap, slide whistle (about 30 cm), small mouth harmonica in C

Premiere: Sandrine Chatron (solo harp), Calliopée Ensemble, Kryštof Mařatka (conductor), 2009, Conservatoire de Paris

Publisher: The Henry Lemoine Editions display more information on this work on
http://www.henry-lemoine.com/fr/catalogue/compositeur/maratka-krystof

For more information, contact:
Henry Lemoine Editions – Paris
Mrs Laurence Fauvet - Rental and purchase of score
orchestre@editions-lemoine.fr / +33 (0) 1 56 68 86 75
Jobert Editions

Henry Lemoine Editions – Paris
Mr. Benoît Walther - Promotion and distribution service
bwalther@editions-lemoine.fr / +33 (0) 1 56 68 86 74
Jobert Editions

Recording:

Extract from the score:

 

Notes on the work:

Praharphona is inspired by the city of Prague. Framed by eight movements, many sequences reflect various phenomena, situations, images and allusions without any narrative logic, but always closely linked to that place. They are simple dedications.

Movements (in calligrams):

  1. ^C (Moon over the St. Vitus Cathedral)
  2. +-)()cc_IL/)-vH_-=¨*L »(v, (alleys, passages, nooks)
    O.=72 (rhythm of things)
    knihy (books, language, knowledge)

  3. 18h15C#   (evening bell)
    lLLaAbiiyRrinnnTtT (exils)
    ^ = v (Jewish city)
    !!?    (pettiness)
    IIIIIIIIIIIII   (consumption, market, money)

  4. most (bridge, from one bank to the other)
    1348 (the Charles University)
    TO RISK OFFICE    (not to sell off oneself)
    2+2=5 (demagogy, totalitarianism, manipulation)
  5. ...noc, sníh... (cold of the midnight snow)
  6. O   (roots, family)
    ‘o-o’ (astronomers)
    d d d d e c c e    (Hussites, interpretation of History)
    meloG (alchemy, legends)
    Pàd¨: (fall, defenestrations)
    ^^^^^^^^^ (river, floods)
  7. pru˚cˇelí    (façades, architecture)
    p,lA,mM,eny (flames)
  8. fff-_’’ssss§§t...,    (wind in the top of the trees)
    NE----p-o  muk       (recatholicisation)
    srpen    (august, cool of the evening)
    K.  (Kafka)
    xx     (unknown enlightened)
    €voluce     (affiliation)
    U kocoura (At the Cat’s sign, inns, caffs)
    / / / / / / / / / / / / /     (13 beers)