Stele (Kurtág)

Stele
by György Kurtág
György Kurtág in 2002
Native name	ΣΤΉΛΗ
Opus	33
Genre	Contemporary music
Composed	1993–1994
Dedication	Claudio Abbado Berlin Philharmonic
Published	2003 (2003): Budapest
Movements	Three
Scoring	Large orchestra
Premiere
Date	14 December 1994 (1994-12-14)
Location	Berlin
Conductor	Claudio Abbado
Performers	Berlin Philharmonic

Stele, Op. 33, sometimes also stylised in Greek capitals as ΣΤΉΛΗ (stēlē), is a composition for orchestra by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It was completed in 1994.

Composition

The composition was first conceived as a work for piano in 1993, which was dedicated to András Mihály. Kurtág completed the orchestral score as a commission of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1994, while he was the composer-in-residence for the orchestra. The piece was premiered in Berlin, on 14 December 1994, by the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado, both of these being the dedicatees. It was published in 2003 by Editio Musica Budapest.

Music

Stele is in three movements and takes up to thirteen minutes to perform. The three movements are untitled and are usually referenced by their tempo. All of the movements are meant to be played attacca. The movements are:

1. Larghissimo – Adagio
2. Lamentoso – Disperato, con moto. Nicht zu schnell aber wild, gehetzt, ungeduldig
3. Molto sostenuto

The final version of the score also includes a 2006 addition to the ending of the score which changes the last bar of the last movement and adds four more bars, extending the last notes played by the instruments. So far, both endings are accepted, even though the first one is still recorded more frequently.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for a very large orchestra.

Woodwinds

4 flutes

1 alto flute

1 bass flute

3 oboes

1 English horn

4 clarinets in B♭

1 bass clarinet in B♭

1 contrabass clarinet in B♭

3 bassoons

1 contrabassoon

Brass

4 French horns

2 tenor tubas in B♭

2 bass tubas in F

4 trumpets in C

4 trombones

1 contrabass tuba

Keyboard instruments

1 cimbalom

2 harps

1 celesta

1 grand piano

1 upright piano

1 marimba

1 vibraphone

Percussion (4 players)

1 triangle (piccolo)

5 cymbals

1 tam-tam

2 bongos

2 log drums

2 bass drums

1 snare drum

1 tambourine

1 whip

bells (C, F, A♭)

timpani

Strings

16 violin I

14 violin II

14 viola

12 cellos

12 double basses

Recordings

• In December 1994, the dedicatees Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic recorded the piece for Deutsche Grammophon. It was recorded in the Large Hall of the Berliner Philharmonie.
• On 26 November 1996, the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Gielen recorded the work at the Konzerthaus Freiburg for BMG Music. This recording was later reissued by Hänssler.