Original scientific paper
Ruben Radica: Prazor
Mirjana Siriščević
Abstract
Prazor is a musical-stage mystery developed from Jure Kastelan's epic poem
of the same name. The main theme of Prazor is a sacrifice, but it also carries
other meanings and it could be interpreted as a requiem to a bird as well.
One could even interpret it as a Mediterranean requiem, in view of the fact
that it is set in such an environment that gives a certain flavor to the poem.
According to the composer, the only way to present Kastelan's poem on
stage was as a mystery - using elements of narration, dramatic staging of
certain episodes, narrator (i.e. choir-conductor), sublimity, and pathos.
When interpreting the poem, the composer distinguishes four parts, i.e. modes
(narration, narrative action, action, mood), that are converted into musical
expression, ranging from speech, sprechgesang, recitative and arioso, to
coloratura. The rhythmics of the mystery arises from the characteristics of
the stress-units of the text and is based on the composer's own way of
translating the four stresses of Croatian language into notes. Depending on
what the plot demands, he uses five different time measures: mono-metric,
poly-metric, "syncopated" ( a "syncope" within a single time measure), "big
measures" outside a time measure, and aleatoric. The system of tone rates
of the composition consists of eleven modes and three sequences, and the
composer calls it a "leitmotif modality".
The musical origin and the language of Prazor are - to an extent - illustrated
by the analytical presentation of the prelude and the first scene. Elements of
folklore and tradition are remarkably supplemented to form a modem, avantgarde
musical expression. For that matter, this is a hallmark of almost entire
Radica's opus.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
279376
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2004.
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