Seither, Charlotte: red roots

für Klavier (2022)

“Red roots” (2022) hints at its source material in depth – only to turn it into something independent. Starting from a Beethovenian cell (from the unpublished sketch, “Wir irren allesamt”), the focus is on leaving the point of departure, which brings up new lines in the interior of the piano. Here, the (supposed) Beethoven presents himself as an “invented memory”, so reality is variously played around, touched upon, over or undercut. The playing on the keys becomes the root material in the interior of the piano, the sound splits more and more in the course of the piece. I liked to follow this path: to start from Beethoven, but never to return to him. (Charlotte Seither)