Karlheinz Stockhausen

*2022 Stock.* This disc contains two pre-Licht pieces, one a modernized reworking of an intuitive text piece from Aus Den Sieben Tagen, and the the other an "historical/archival" release from the shortwave radio "Plus-Minus" series. Litanei 97 is basically a reworking of the piece Litanei (Litany) from Stockhausen's 1968 collection of intuitive text pieces, Aus Den Sieben Tagen (From the Seven Days), which generally uses verbal instructions to direct improvisational ensembles performances. In contrast to the other members of Aus Den Sieben Tagen, Litanei is worded as a personal message from Stockhausen to the performer, and it's intention is more like "introducing" the concept of intuitive music, rather than instructing the players to play a specific melodic/rhythmic idea. In 1997, a version of Litanei, redubbed Litanei 97, was premiered by the Choir of the South German Radio, and conducted by Rupert Huber. This version is not based so much on intuitive improvisation, but there are definitely some aleatory elements relating to pitch ranges and glissandi. Each line of the text is intoned microtonally by members of a mixed choir (SATB), and each voice group is assigned a different pitch range. In addition, the conductor sometimes sings short phrases from the Michael formula (one of the melodic themes dominating Stockhausen's Licht opera cycle) and strikes metal percussion bowls as punctuation marks.
- Stockhausenspace.blogspot.com