Ilja Zeljenka - Polymetric Music for four string quintets (1970)

Ilja Zeljenka (1932 - 2007) Polymetric Music for four string quintets / Polymetrická hudba pre štyri sláčikové kvintetá, 1970 I originally called the composition Psalm, but this title was not accepted by the Czechoslovak Radio, as it was too clearly associated with the tragic August ’68. In the composition I wanted to express a time continuum. The metrical division of the four string quintets is in the ratio of 3 : 4 : 5 : 6 for every 10 seconds. It can only be demonstrated by using light signals to determine the four different tempi in an exact way. The piece has not been performed publicly in this country and was premiered at the ISCM festival in Graz. It won second place at the UNESCO Radio Tribune Recording Competition in Paris. (author, in: bulletin Melos-Ethos 1991) /// Skladbu som pôvodne nazval Žalm, ale pod týmto názvom ju nechceli v Čs. rozhlase uviesť, nakoľko každému príliš zreteľn