Zilver

The basic idea of «Zilver» is to write a chorale variation like Bach did for the organ: a long melody in slow musical motion, combined with fast playing of the same melody. The slow playing of the melody, which is a pop song that nobody will recognize, is done by the winds and the strings; they also play in slow four-part harmony, like a chorale. The rest of the instruments- the two percussion players, playing on keyboard instruments (vibraphone and marimba), and the piano- play staccato chords, and these staccato chords become faster and faster all the time. Basically the ensemble is divided into these groups, and the two groups play canons that are combined together. «Zilver» also seems to be a part of a series of chamber music pieces names for certain kinds of matter. — Louis Andriessen.