Commission to David Philip Hefti

The composer David Philip Hefti is creating a new work for chamber orchestra entitled Zerrissene Stille (Riven Silence) for the Zuger Sinfonietta, which will be premiered in May 2025. The composition is a response to both the works also performed at this concert and to the region of Zug.

Promoting contemporary music is part of the Zug Sinfonietta’s mission. The performance of Zerrissene Stille will be conducted by Daniel Huppert, the Zug Sinfonietta’s principal conductor. When commissioning the new work from David Philip Hefti, it was important that a piece be created that was directly associated with the Zug Sinfonietta, that would be performed at a subscription concert, that was written for a chamber orchestra with an impressive line-up and that would fit into the wider concert programme of this concert.

On this basis, David Philip Hefti decided, on the one hand, to react to the other works programmed – a Sibelius Violin Concerto and Schumann’s Third Symphony – with his new work for chamber orchestra. On the other hand, Hefti set out to capture the essence of Zug, which – against the backdrop of the region’s ubiquitous natural beauty (including Lake Zug) – is characterised by tradition and innovation. The composer himself explains the work’s concept as follows: ‘I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to write a new orchestral work for the Zug Sinfonietta. It will be a single-movement piece lasting around 15 minutes that will have many references to the concert programme of 10/11 May 2025 (with Sibelius and Schumann) as well as to Zug. These atmospheric, harmonic, motivic or structural references create a network of relationships that is permanently present in the background. However, due to the ‘inaudibility’ of these references, the piece can also be performed as an independent orchestral work outside the context of the world premiere. The instrumentation of the new composition is as follows: piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 percussion, strings.’

The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation has made the commission to David Philip Hefti possible.

Further information:
zugersinfonietta.ch

Dates

May 10 & 11, 2025
Theater Casino, Zug