Song of Constitution - Leaves of Grass - Tiroler Trio by Alexander Blechinger

SONG OF CONSTITUTION tells the story of the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America, using documents from that period that eloquently convey the spirit of the time. The text of the work is taken in part from the Declaration of independence (1776) and in part from the Constitution. In between there are letters and comments by politicians, and verses and odes by writers of the day. Song of constitution begins with a letter from John Adams, in which he, in the role of a genius (soprano) says that Jefferson has started his willingness to write the Declaration of Independence. In the orchestra, the national anthem of the United States is heard in string pizzicatos, later in the woodwinds. next is a letter from Thomas Jefferson giving his view of the same matter (tenor). He says that the Committee of Five - including Adams - strongly recommended that he undertake the task. He agrees to do so. The chorus proclaims the Declaration. Interpolated in this section is the poetic background information about „the free man“: „I am as free...“ (tenor). At this point, concerned voices are raised about the chances of America becoming one nation, upon which John Adams - as the genius (soprano) - answers Thomas jefferson to the effect that a government is a complicated piece of machinery that is not yet well comprehended by artists and still less by the people. Doubts and concerns remain. The genius (soprano) goes on to say that democratic states must always feel before they can see; this makes a government slow, but the people will be right at last. There are great seasons (tenor), when persons with limited powers are justified in exceeding them, and a person would be contemptible not to risk it. the disputes continue between the proponents and opponents of a strong national government. In the duet that follows, jefferson, in a letter to his friend Chastellux, speaks of the differences between North and South (soprano, tenor). Then choral soloists begin Alexander Pope‘s „All are part of one stupendous whole“. Crevecoeur asks, „What, then, is an American, this new man?“ Sherman‘s words are set as a sort of spiritual (soprano, chorus): „The various harmony in the works of nature manifest the wisdom of the creator.“ Therefore, „Learn when to speak and when to silent set. Fools often speak and show their want of wit.“ Now everyone is urging a quick conclusion. The ode of the Pennsylvania Packet is heard (tenor), calling for friendly hands to combine. An anonymous convention ballad, written to the tune of Yankee Doodle (chorus); a greeting from the French, „Bon, bon, bon! C‘est à Boston, qu‘on entend souffent les canons“ (choral fugato); and a report by the Boston Daily Advertiser that the convention has „let the cat out of the bag“ (tenor), herald to the proclamation of the Constitution (chorus) which is subdivided by four outbursts of jubilation (soprano, tenor; 2x chorus). The work comes to an end with the third verse of the national anthem of the United States, sung in unison by the chorus which is starting to discover for itself the trail blazed by Jefferson. The world premiere: November 10, 1987, Golden Hall of Vienna Musikverein. The work is dedicated to the people of the USA. Prof.Dr.Marcel Pravy: „It‘s really good. Music about American history written by an Austrian composer!“ Norman Shetler: „Blechinger endeavours to continue the great music tradition of Vienna“ The ballad LEAVES OF GRASS - SONG OF MYSELF to a text by the pioneer of the American awareness of life, Walt Whitman, is a piece of „American music“ and a manifesto of the self-awareness of American individualism.Critics: Ronald S.Lauder, American Ambassador: „I am delighted about such concrete evidence of American/Austrian cooperation“ TYROLIAN TRIO is a musical puzzle written in C major, consisting of a yodel, a Tyrolienne, a Ragtime, a melody by Heinrich Isaak, a type of jazz-improvisation, some alien hungarian music and the hymn of Tyrol.