DCCLXXV. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz: Der Jahreslauf, for orchestra and tape

DCCLXXV. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz (1928-2007)

Der Jahreslauf, for orchestra and tape (1977)
European Concert version
(43:40)

This amazing video has English subtitles placed into the various (weird) artwork the uploader has inserted. It makes the music that much more interesting.

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Stockhausen's notes:

Der Jahreslauf (THE COURSE OF THE YEARS) simultaneously depicts -- as four musical time layers -- milleniums (3 harmoniums), centuries (anvil and 3 piccolos), decades (bongo and 3 soprano saxophones), and years (bass drum with harpsichord and guitar).

Four temptations bring it to a stand-still, and each time an incitement sets it in motion again. In a performance, these temptations and incitements become audible as sound-events and words over loudspeakers.

Entrance

A ringing of geisha bells begins (tape).

The musicians enter from the left, irregularly spaced from each other, dressed in white or blue tops and black trousers or skirts. They calmly and ceremoniously walk to their places looking straight ahead. While they walk onstage, the stage lighting is completely faded in and remains unchanged thereafter. The musicians who are not carrying an instrument hold their hands loosely in front of their bodies, with arms bent. As they sit down without bowing, remaining motionless, the geisha bells are faded out. (The orchestra parts must be placed, opened, on the low music stands before the concert begins.) The bass drum player looks to see if all are ready, then starts the music with a high upbeat.

First Temptation

A ship's bell rings loudly and irregularly. The musicians stop playing, with the exception of the harmoniums. All freeze in position. From the outside at the right, the rapid, nearly synchronous steps of three people striding onto the stage can be heard. They halt at the right. Clothing rustles.

Surprised, the musicians look in the direction of the sound and follow its stereophonic movement with their head positions and eyes (they look diagonally upwards to the front as if the scene was taking place in front of them, slightly upwards, in the air). Their heads remain fixed at the point where the steps halt. From now on, in this and the following sound scenes, the musicians must follow all movements with parallel movements of their heads (this must be carefully rehearsed).

A man's voice speaks slowly and clearly: "Flowers for the year-runner (long pause) -- he does not want them." Slightly longer rustling of clothing. The steps stride from the right to the half-right. Silence. The man's voice says: "Flowers for the decade-runner (pause) -- neither does he." Loud and bright, a foot stamps on the floor. The steps stride to the half-left. Silence. Rustling of clothes. Man's voice: "Flowers for the century-runner -- he does not want any either." Loud footstep. Striding to the left. Silence. Rustling of clothes. Man's voice: "Flowers for the millenium-runner -- also he does not yet want any flowers." Two explosive footsteps. There is a sharp cracking noise as the discarded bouquet of flowers hits the floor. Silence. Rapid striding off from the left to the rear right (sounds moves diagonally across the stage in ca. 9 sec.).

First Incitement

Quick running-in (child's steps) from the far left to nearly the front centre; girl's voice with rapid hand-clapping: "Applause --" quick steps, rapid clapping -- "Applause for the artists!" -- clapping -- "Please applaud, so that it can continue!" Applause (from the tape) follows, and usually the public also joins in, applauding. As the applause subsides, the bass drum player gives the downbeat.

Second Temptation

The loud, high ringing of a table bell (used for signalling the beginning of meals) begins. The musicians, with the exception of the harmoniums stop playing. All freeze in position and synchronously move their heads with the following sound movements.

Together with the ringing, the sound of a trolley rolling in from the right and stopping at about mid-stage can be heard. The musicians again follow the movements with their glances. A man's voice slowly and clearly says: "A cook -- with exquisite food." The rolling trolley and ringing slowly move to the left, then back again to the middle.

Second Incitement

The roaring of a lion begins outside to the left. It approaches, moving in front of the musicians to the right, then to the left again, to the middle, and slowly back to the left, becoming softer. After ca. 43 sec. of the lion-roaring, the harpsichord player gives the downbeat. The lion-roaring is gradually faded out.

Third Temptation

Loud car-honking approaches from the outside right (4 chrome horns with rubber bulbs which when squeezed honk 4 different pitches). The 4 pitches follow in irregular, quick succession, often with two horns honking simultaneously (changing pitch combinations), for example

The musicians -- with the exception of the harmoniums -- stop playing. All freeze in position and again synchronously follow the acoustic movements.

With the honking, a motorcycle races in from the right, makes a few curves, drives to the right, then to the half-right, half-left, left and halts (after ca. 30 sec.). Silence -- single honks with single pitches and intervals (ca. 22 sec.). Stops at the centre, single honks, turning off of the motor (ca. 18 sec.). Silence.

Single honks with pauses (ca. 28 sec.).

Third Incitement

A humming girl comes skipping in from the left, remains standing to the left of the middle and calls, "For the winner of the course of the years, 10,000 marks! Please continue to play." Silence. The voice of the girl insists, "For the winner of the course of the years: 10,000 marks! Please continue to play!" (ca. 44 sec.)

The bass drum player looks at all the musicians, waits for a moment, then gives the downbeat. The motorcycle is started, roars off honking, whizzing in large curves and away at the right. It is gone.

Fourth Temptation

Soft "entertainment" music (blues) comes from the right and slowly moves to the middle. The musicians -- with the exception of the harmoniums -- stop playing. All freeze in position and synchronously follow the direction of the sound movements.

After 40 sec., a man's voice says, "HƆ HƆ HƆ HƆ: stark naked!"

The percussionists start softly playing the dance rhythm.

Fourth Incitement

A thunderstorm with crashing thunder starts. Immediately afterwards, all musicians begin to play loudly. The entertainment music continues to sound for about 20 seconds during the storm, which gradually becomes softer. The storm fades out.