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Chain 2
a Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra

  • Duration: 18'
  • Instrumentation: vno solo-2222-0220-batt (4esec) cel pf-archi (6.6.4.4.2)
  • Year: 1985
  • Language of edition: eng, pol
  • Order: Paul Sacher
  • Type: parts, score

''Chain II'' was commissioned by and dedicated to Paul Sacher, the Swiss conductor and impresario (b. April 28, 1906, d. May 26, 1999), who, thanks to his own fortune, commissioned works from famous composers, including Stravinsky, Bartók, Britten, Martinů, Honegger, Hindemith and others. The piece was performed for the first time by Anne-Sophie Mutter and Colegium Musicum under the direction of P. Sacher on 31 January 1986 at the Tonhalle in Zurich. During the first performance it was found to be a success, rather a triumphant success, and as a result a friendship between the composer and 22-year-old star of the violin was established. After several years, Anne-Sophie Mutter remembered, ''In 1985, it was a huge shock for me, because I had never performed contemporary music. I could not arouse my own interest in such works and that is why I lacked courage. Or maybe it was the other way round: a lack of courage would not let me become interested in it? Lutosławski was the first. When I got the score from Paul Sacher, it seemed to be a set of hieroglyphics. The proposal to perform ''Chain II'' flattered me, but I feared I would not understand the music, make it something personal. Not just play, but breathe life into it ... I quickly got rid of my doubts. I learned that the composer demanded something of me, and that something was in me, although I had never yet been aware of it. Lutosławski hit a note that had not yet been sounded. In ''Chain'' there is a wonderful sense of time. I am thinking primarily of the solo passages ad libitum, in which the composer gives the performer a sense of freedom, co-creation, spontaneity. Lutosławski here found a wonderful flow, the music really flows forward. This was a turning point in my musical development. After this first piece I wanted to immediately play the next, I dreamt of a full violin concerto. As the maestro Lutosławski was a thoroughly serious creator he did not say something like, Excellent, ma'am, in six months the piece will be ready,' but responded calmly, Yes, I have a few fragments, I shall work on them. Unfortunately, nothing came of it.'' ''Chain II'' is a virtuosic piece, rich in resources known to the great tradition of violin. The orchestral texture, the iridescent colours of the variety of sounds put a lot of technical requirements in front of the orchestral musicians. (Based on the book: Danuta Gwizdalanka, Krzysztof Meyer Lutosławski. Droga do mistrzostwa)

Score for sale

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Four Signals

1. Rzeszów Motif, 2. Łowicz Motif, 3. Mazowian Motif, 4. Original Motif
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