Ein Wellenspiel

From Wind Repertory Project
Rolf Rudin

Rolf Rudin


This work may also be found under its title in English A Playing of the Waves

N.B. There are two versions of this work, one with mixed chorus and one without. This record describes the version without the chorus, Opus 45a. The version with chorus is Opus 45, entitled Versunkene Stadt (Submerged City).


General Info

Year: 1997
Duration: c. 11:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: edition flor
Cost: Score and Parts - Contact Rolf Rudin


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III (div.)
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet/B-flat Bugle I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Suspended Cymbals (5)
  • Tam-tam (large)
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

According to an old Carinthian legend, an entire city with all inhabitants submerged in the floods pouring out from a wondrous keg. Next morning a large lake covered woods and fields. When the waves touch the submerged bells, even today their pealing is heard from the depths from time to time.

The whole piece is "carried” by the woodwinds in an incessant flow like a tonal metaphor of the flowing manifestation of that vital element "water." This flow is relentless within continuously alternating undulations. The text for the choir is solely based on combinations of syllables and letters of the title, creating the impression of ritual semantics through constant repetitions. It is only towards the end of the composition that the phonetic silhouette is heard. Wind orchestra and audience alike give heed to the playing of the waves creating the pealing of the bells from the church towers of the submerged city.

There are two versions of this work, one with mixed chorus and one without. This record describes the version without the chorus, Opus 45a. The version with chorus is entitled Submerged City (Versunkene Stadt), Opus 45. The singing parts are transcribed in the orchestration and that works very well because nearly every chorus passage has a doubling in the instrumental parts of the original piece.

- Program Note by composer


Awards

  • 18th International Composition Competition for original works for Wind Orchestra, Corciano (Perugia, Italy), 1997, second prize


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Sinfonisches Verbandsjugendorchester Ortenau (Germany) (Rüdiger Müller, conductor) – 29 October 2019 (Fredonia, N.Y.)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Rolf Rudin, personal correspondence, January 2021
  • Rolf Rudin website Accessed 1 November 2019
  • Rudin, R. (2000). Ein Wellenspiel : op. 45a für Sinfonisches Blasorchester (1997) [score]. Edition Flor: Erlensee, Germany.