A tough Winter (Een taaie Winter) (1988)
with financial support of the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst
first performance: April 4-1988, Musis Sacrum, Arnhem
Marjanne Kweksilber – mezzo-soprano
Rien de Reede – alto flute
The words come from a letter (February 11-1947) by the Dutch composer Willem Pijper written a few weeks before his death. He is looking forward to the end of winter, hoping that he will be able to get well again. It was not to be. He just died before the beginning of spring. We know this, Pijper didn’t. This lends an extra tragic dimension to his words. Short passages from his letter have been arranged like a poem and set to music.
Together with the composition Finally arrived (Eindelijk aangekomen) it forms Diptych (Tweeluik) for mezzo-soprano and alto flute.
There is also a version of Diptych (Tweeluik) for mezzo-soprano, accordion and cello,Diptych nr.2 (Tweeluik nr.2).
A tough Winter (Een taaie Winter) en Finally arrived (Eindelijk aangekomen) may also be performed in English. The translation is printed in the score of Diptych nr. 2 (Tweeluik nr.2).
words (Dutch):
Wat vliegt de tijd en wat blijft het ellendig koud weer.
Mijn herstel wordt er steeds door tegengehouden,
maar ik blijf zorgvuldig binnen.
Een echte keer ten goede komt pas als het weer omslaat, denk ik zoo.
Overigens heb ik niet te klagen; de pijn wordt minder
en de algeheele gezondheidstoestand wordt door de injecties zeker beïnvloed.
Het slapen gaat nog slecht.
Ik moet me er echt bovenop zien te halen.
Men zegt dat de volgende week omslag van het weer zou kunnen brengen.
Ik heb zoo’n idee, dat ik dan ook wel eens even naar buiten kan.
Nu zou dat onzin wezen.
Het slapen gaat nog slecht.
Ik moet me er echt bovenop zien te halen.
Dit is een taaie winter voor mij geweest.
translation:
Oh, how time flies and how miserably cold it is.
My recovery has been obstructed by it,
so I have stayed indoors so far.
A real change for the better will come when the weather breaks, I think.
Yet there is no reason for complaint: the pain grows less
and now my physical condition is certainly influenced by the vaccinations.
But I still sleep badly.
I really must do my level best to pull through.
It is said there’s likely to be a complete change in the weather next week.
I think there might be a chance of going out for a while.
Right now this would be sheer nonsense.
But I still sleep badly.
I really must do my level best to pull through.
This has been quite a tough winter for me.
From a letter to his mother by Willem Pijper, Leidschendam, February 11-1947
A tough Winter nr.2 (Een taaie Winter nr.2) (1988)
with financial support of the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst
first performance: December 14-1990, Vredenburgh, Utrecht
Trio le Cheval consisting of Marjanne Kweksilber – mezzo-soprano
Miny Dekkers – accordion
Taco Kooistra – cello
Dutch version:
English version:
Finally arrived (Eindelijk aangekomen) (1996)
commissioned by Martien van der Kuijp
first performance: February 19-1997, Tijgerzaal Artis, Amsterdam
Marcel Beekman – tenore
António José Carrilho – bass recorder
The words come from a letter written February 1920 by the Dutch poet Herman Gorter to his girlfriend Jenne Clinge Doorenbosch. He has just returned from Moscow. As founder of the German Communist Party he has negotiated with the communist leaders, among them Lenin, about joining the Komintern. He thinks to have been listened to. Nothing is further from the truth. His ideas are not appreciated at all. An inspired communist, who is at the same time an inspired poet cannot be taken seriously. Gorter is not aware of this contempt and that lends to his optimistic words an extra tragic dimension.
There is also a version for mezzo-soprano and alto flute, part of Dyptich (Tweeluik) . And there is a version for mezzo-soprano, accordion and cello, part of Dyptich nr.2 (Tweeluik nr.2).
It may also be performed in English. The translation is in the score of Dyptich nr.2 (Tweeluik nr.2).
words:
Eindelijk aangekomen,
Doodop, moe, mager en uitgeteerd.
Maar het doel is bereikt.
Ik keer terug, een beter, sterker
en gelukkiger mensch.
translation:
Finally arrived,
worn out, tired, and emaciated.
But I have succeeded,
I return as a better, stronger
and a happier man.
From a letter by Herman Gorter to Jenne Clinge Doorenbosch, December 16-1920
Diptych (Tweeluik) (1999)
with financial support of the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst
first performance: May 10-1999, Uilenburger Sjoel, Amsterdam
Marjanne Kweksilber – mezzo-soprano
Eleonore Pameijer – alto flute
Dyptich (Tweeluik) consists of A tough Winter (Een taaie Winter) and Finally arrived (Eindelijk aangekomen) in the version for mezzo-soprano and alto flute.
Both songs are based on fragments from letters written by the Dutch composer Willem Pijper (1894-1947) and the Dutch politician and poet Herman Gorter (1864-1927). Both writers are rather optimistic about the future, which, as we know now, will appear to be without good reason. Willem Pijper hopes to recover fully when winter will be over, but he dies before spring has begun. Herman Gorter is very satisfied with the upshot of his negotiations with the communist leaders in Moscow, but he doesn’t know, that he was not taken seriously at all. This contrast lends an extra tragic dimension to their letters.
There is a version for mezzo-soprano, accordion and cello, Dyptich nr.2 (Tweeluik nr.2).
It may also be performed in English. The translation can be found in the score of Dyptich nr.2 (Tweeluik nr.2).