Lullaby

This piece is composed on three plans: (1) pulsating rhythm, played by harps; (2) ultra-delicate harmonic textures created by constantly interweaving strings, each player with his own independent part, using quarter tones; and (3) repetitions of the almost pentatonic melodic line (closely related to a Polish folk song)by violin, viola and 'cello, one by one.

This basic melodic line from time to time becomes obscured behind the increasingly dense harmonic textures which are perhaps like clouds moving very slowly across a night sky, sometimes exposing and sometimes covering the outline of the moon. The Lullaby throughout is pianissimo, and has to be performed with much human warmth of expression.


Andrzej Panufnik

Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer