Orrr... (1996)

Thomas Åberg (b. 1952) — Orrr... (1996) for organ

“Orrr…” (1996) is an unusual work in the composer’s output; he describes its genesis below. The piece unfolds in three main sections, and its musical material is mostly a series of gestures and cluster harmonies. The opening section alternates isolated gestures with several brief toccata-like passages. In the middle section, the cluster harmonies “hang in the air” (with several notes sustained at length with key weights/pencils.) The final section is a short rhythmic dance.

The composer writes the following about this work:

“‘Orrr…’ is a fantasy piece I wrote after a radio interview in 1996. The reporter was very prepared and knew a great deal about my music, even from my early years. He called me three times before the broadcast and begged me to provide him with some material from the 1970s. After I began writing more traditionally in the 1980s, I no longer performed or published my more experimental works from those early years. At first I kept saying “no” to him, but after three calls, I gave up and gave him a recording of a piece from 1978. Before I gave it to him, I re-recorded it at double speed so that it sounded almost like electronic music. I remember I was very anxious before the broadcast, but when I finally heard it, I thought it came off surprisingly well. Then the idea came to me—what would it sound like if I wrote a piece today (1996) but with just a bit of the more experimental spirit I had when I was younger? The result of this is called ‘Orrr…’—since a fantasy piece must also have a fantasy title. But of course ‘Orrr…’ has something to do with organ….”

Published by Svensk Musik (SMIC) (https://www.svenskmusik.org/en)