Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
String Quartet No. 2, iii. Schwungvoll (2006, revised 2011) with soprano (Sprechstimme) in movements ii. & iii. (This recording is of the alternate version substituting flute for the soprano voice).
Text: Das Gespräch eines Lebensmüden mit seiner Seele (1900 b.c.)
Text language: Ancient Egyptian (Middle Egyptian).
The visuals in this video were all created by the composer.
This piece was composed in Studio City, California and was dedicated to the composer's fiancée at the time -- and to his future fiancée, whoever she may be.
English translation of portion of the text appearing in the third movement:
Yea, verily, the one who is
There shall be a living god,
Punishing the crime of him who commits it.
Yea, verily, the one who is There shall stand in the Ship of the Sun,
Disbursing offerings to the temples.
Yea, verily – yea, verily --
The one who is There shall be a wise man,
And when he speaks, no-one can prevent him from petitioning Re.
String Quartet No. 2, iii. Schwungvoll (2006, revised 2011) with soprano (Sprechstimme) in movements ii. & iii. (This recording is of the alternate version substituting flute for the soprano voice).
Text: Das Gespräch eines Lebensmüden mit seiner Seele (1900 b.c.)
Text language: Ancient Egyptian (Middle Egyptian).
The visuals in this video were all created by the composer.
This piece was composed in Studio City, California and was dedicated to the composer's fiancée at the time -- and to his future fiancée, whoever she may be.
English translation of portion of the text appearing in the third movement:
Yea, verily, the one who is
There shall be a living god,
Punishing the crime of him who commits it.
Yea, verily, the one who is There shall stand in the Ship of the Sun,
Disbursing offerings to the temples.
Yea, verily – yea, verily --
The one who is There shall be a wise man,
And when he speaks, no-one can prevent him from petitioning Re.
![Claude Ballif, Sonate pour flûte et piano Op. 23 [1958] - 2 of 2](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_LQ2MxF9Wuo/mqdefault.jpg "Claude Ballif, Sonate pour flûte et piano Op. 23 [1958] - 2 of 2
The work establishes an even dialogue between the two protagonists, giving rise to a very light pianistic discourse. The sonata is in one movement, in the form of an arc, with a return to the beginning. The central part is a virtuoso piece for the flute, with nervous sputterings and impressions of counterpoint for two voices, which recall a preliminary draft for violin and piano. In the score, a line by Dante prolongs the impressionof the last bars with a diamond-like purity: Quanto grazia e dolcezza si vede il loro. He allows the resonance to die down in an atrosphere of perfect serentiy.")
