Dir, mir zu

This short, highly compact song is based on an excerpt from a poem by Philipp Luidl. Thanks to the narrow ambitus of the vocal part, it is suitable for every vocal register. The piano part is strictly bound to the musical text, whereas the vocal part, though precisely notated, is granted almost unlimited leeway in performance. Almost anything is permitted, from traditional song interpretation to uninhibited Sprechgesang in which even pitches can be redefined. The imagery of the poem – a stone constantly rolled back by the sea – gives rise to music of great flexibility. Piano and voice complement each other while preserving their independence.

• Suitable for any voice (ambitus from F to C)
• Traditional notation with no playing inside the piano
• Moderately difficult
• Enticing possibilities of interpretation