Uxolo

Uxolo is written for Recorder Orchestra and is separated into parts A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P

"This is probably the easiest piece I ever wrote for Recorder Orchestra - because I wrote it in 2019 for the 5th Anniversary of the Itzehoer Recorder Day. For five years, 70 to 100 recorder amateurs have come together every year to play together.

UXOLO in Xhosa means forgiveness. For me, forgiveness is one of the most important, comforting, heartwarming things we can do for one another. Schoenberg wrote his perhaps most beautiful piece about it, Verklärte Nacht. I have chosen a swaying rhythm, the bar is divided twice by three, three triplets make up a metric unit. Above this rises the consolatory melody that I took from my sketches for my upcoming suite African Christmas. When I wrote this melody I thought of the angel from the Christmas story who calms down the shepherds in the field, telling them: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  

Because I knew that Anabel Röser and Nóra Kiszty from Elbanflutes would be conducting the workshop together, I incorporated a virtuoso sopranino solo into the piece. I admit I love the almost supernaturally jubilant sound of the sopranino. Of course, you need an experienced player for this part. On the other hand, I have kept the orchestral score so easy that it's well playable by amateurs.

I thank the participants of the 5th Itzehoer Recorder Day for the wonderful Premiere on February 23, 2019, conducted by Anabel Röser, with Nóra Kiszty at the Sopranino, and Dörthe Landmesser for commissioning the composition."

Score: 12 pages. 9 parts @ 2 pages ea.