Harrison Birtwistle: Lied ohne Worte

  
Commissioned by the Ruhr Piano Festival for Alfred Brendel's 75th birthday. The world premiere was on 9 August 2006, with Adrian Brendel (Alfred's son) on cello. The work has an epigram by Rilke, from "Liebes-Lied" (Love-Song): "Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt? / Und welcher Geiger hat uns in der Hand?" (Upon what instrument have we been strung? / And what fiddler has us in his hand?).