Dégustation (2011)

Burkhard Mohr — Dégustation (2011) for organ

1) Quasi presto
2) Andante espressivo
3) Allegro

The title of “Dégustation” (2011) means “tasting” in English, referring to what is usually a sampling of a chef’s characteristic foods (or wines) within a sitting. The musical work consists of three contrasting movements, each of which is itself in ternary form. The opening “Quasi presto” alternates between fleet, scurrying music and broader passages. “Andante espressivo” features a melody over “wandering” triadic harmonies. “Allegro” is animated by a theme of repeated chords (each with small changes). The movement bounds along to its joyous conclusion.

German composer Burkhard Mohr (b. 1955) was born in Gambach/Oberhessen and was educated in Frankfurt where he studied music and theology. He also attended the Darmstadt new music courses with Stockhausen, Kagel, Ligeti, and Xenakis. He has worked as a church musician in Frankfurt-Höchst and Wiesbaden and also taught music for many years at the technical university in Frankfurt. Mohr has composed numerous musical works in many genres, including several operas and orchestral works along with much chamber music and music for choir and organ. Mohr’s music usually concerns itself with the blurry boundaries and connections between atonal (12-tone) and tonal (triadic) materials and with the unexpected (or traditionally extended) formal designs that can result from teasing out these connections.