2nd Violin Concerto (Zweites Violinkonzert)
For solo violin, tape, bass baritone and 33 instrumentalists
Incorporating the poem “Hommage à Gödel” by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
English by Desmond Clayton and Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Commissioned by Paul Sacher
Year of composition 1971
Duration 29 minutes
In one movement
Dedicated to Paul, Maja and Brenton
World premiere
World premiere 2. November 1972
Basel
Basler Kammerorchester
Violin Brenton Langbein
Bassobaritono Kurt Widmer
Conductor Paul Sacher
Comments
After years of experience with this piece I have changed an important item in the score: unhappy with the foggy sound of the voice on the original electronic tape I have decided to have the voice performing live, preferably by a young buffo baritone, who can sing, perform sprechgesang and act cheerfully, without pathos (all by heart).
In January 1991 a new tape was made by Roderick Watkins (courtesy of the BBC and the Royal Academy of Music), on which the old sections for voice were omitted. Due to this, the presence of a singer is now compulsory for all performances of this concerto.
Hans Werner Henze
Instrumentation
| Violino solista | (anche Violino con microfono di contatto) |
| 3 Flauti | (anche Ottavini) |
| 1 Oboe | |
| 1 Corno inglese | |
| 1 Clarinetto | (con microfono di contatto) |
| 1 Clarinetto | |
| 1 Clarinetto basso | |
| 2 Fagotti | |
| 2 Corni | |
| 2 Trombe | |
| 1 Trombone | (o Tuba wagneriana) |
| Percussione I | Vibrafono Marimbula (o Salterio tedesco) 3 Campanacci |
| Percussione II | 3 Tomtom Log-drum Cassettina di legno Guiro Bambú sospeso |
| Percussione III | 3 Piatti sospesi Grancassa (con pedale della Grancassa) 8 Boo-bam (o Marimba con sordino) |
| Percussione IV | 3 Tamtam Dobaçi Flessatono 2 Maracas Lastra dal tuono sospesa Campane tubolari |
| Arpa | |
| Mandolino | (con microfono di contatto) |
| Chitarra | (con microfono di contatto) |
| Pianoforte | |
| Pianoforte preparato | (con microfono di contatto) |
| 4 Viole | |
| 3 Violoncelli | |
| 2 Contrabbassi |