DCCCLVII. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz: Welt-Parlament

DCCCLVII. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz (1928-2007)

Welt-Parlament (1994-95)
Südfunk-Chor Stuttgart / South German Radio Choir Stuttgart
Rupert Huber, cond.
1. Part 1 (14:03)
2. Part 2 (14:02)
3. Part 3 (9:11)

For a cappella choir. Welt-Parlament is the first scene of the opera Mittwoch aus Licht.

The world parliament is in session. The president opens WEDNESDAY from LIGHT. He announces the debate:

Worhorld Parliament: love is our issue here.

In unknown languages, the world parliamentarians sing in 12 groups, all with different rhythms. The sound of their languages begins with the dark [u] and in several spirals very gradually moves to brighter vowels reading [i], always in connection with different consonants.

Every now and then, individual parliamentarians step forward, walk to the empty space between the two halves of the choir and -- in the local language - intelligibly sing their declarations about love to the choir singers and for short moments also to the public. Each time, the president comments, and the choir of parliamentarians reacts to this with characteristic leaps in the dynamic level and envelopes.

...

The president adjourns the session. All rise and walk out -- singing the same pitch. Undecided where he should exit, a bass stops and, slightly embarrassed, stutters to the audience: 'Yeah, and now the next scene would follow!' Then he trudges out, as the singing of the choir dies away in the distance." -- KS