Licht
Encyclopedia
Licht subtitled "The Seven Days of the Week," is a cycle of seven opera
s composed by Karlheinz Stockhausen
between 1977 and 2003. In total, the cycle contains over 29 hours of music.
orchestra commissioned by the National Theatre
in Tokyo. Titled Jahreslauf (Course of the Years), this piece became the first act of Dienstag. Another important Japanese influence is from Noh
theater, which the composer cites in connection with his conception of stage action (Stockhausen, Conen, and Hennlich 1989, 282). The cycle also draws on elements from the Judeo-Christian
and Vedic
traditions (Bruno 1999, 134). The title of Licht owes something to Sri Aurobindo
's theory of "Agni
" (the Hindu and Vedic fire deity), developed from two basic premises of nuclear physics, and Stockhausen's conception of the Licht superformula also owes a great deal to Sri Aurobindo's category of the "supramental" (Peters 2003, 227). It is centered around three main characters, Michael, Eve, and Lucifer.
Many of the events in the opera refer to The Urantia Book
, which was sold to Stockhausen by a remarkable figure during his New York Philharmonic
concert in 1971 (Kurtz 1992, 188). In his analysis of the cycle, Gregg Wager states that "There can be little doubt … that Stockhausen's first and foremost inspiration for Lucifer's rebellion … originated from the Urantia Book … specific terms such as "Local System", "Planetary Princes" or Paradise Sons" can only be from the Urantia Book" (Wager 1998, 193). Wager also points to the fact that Michael is clearly identified in Donnerstag as originating from "Nebadon", which is another location name peculiar to the Urantia Book (Wager 1998, 194). The emblems of Michael
and Lucifer
in Licht are also derived from the Urantia Book (Bandur 2004, 142).
According to Stockhausen biographer Michael Kurtz, "Michael, Lucifer and Eve are, for Stockhausen, more than theatrical figures. They are the expression of a world beyond, to which terrestrial eyes are blind, but which is given concrete form by The Urantia Book and other sources" (Kurtz 1992, 228). Wager also takes care to assert that Lucifer, Eve, and Michael are "personal inventions of Stockhausen's that were made more meaningful through the Urantia Book. … The listener can also assume that Stockhausen has used these symbols freely and enjoys the style of absurdist theater manifested in Originale where no clear meaning is apparent" (Wager 1998, 208). Furthermore, according to Markus Bandur, the Urantia Book references are concealed by means of associative strategies to other fields of meaning and, as work progressed on Licht after the first-composed opera, Donnerstag, their significance progressively diminishes (Bandur 2004, 144).
: these melodies define both the tonal centers and durations of scenes as a whole, as well as the melodic phrasing in detail. Each of the three central characters is also associated with an instrument: Michael
with the trumpet
, Eve
with the basset horn, and Lucifer
with the trombone
.
The Licht Superformula
Stockhausen's conception of opera is more akin to the tableaux
of the Renaissance masque
and its hermetic
cosmology than to traditional dramatic
and climactic
structures typical of the past two centuries (Godwin 1998, 354).
The cycle is constructed modularly
. Not only is each of the seven operas a self-sufficient work, but so are the individual acts, scenes, and—in some cases—portions of scenes. These modules may be segments (e.g., the eleven instrumental solo sections from Orchester-Finalisten from Mittwoch), or layers (e.g., the electronic Oktophonie layer from the second act of Dienstag or the Klavierstück XIII
version of the first scene of Samstag (Luzifers Traum), with the bass voice omitted), or a combination of the two (e.g., the vocal sextet Menschen, hört and the Bassetsu-Trio, which are two layers of the "Karusel" subscene from Michaelion, the fourth scene of Mittwoch).
, whose subject matter reflects attributes associated in traditional mythologies
with each day. These attributes in turn rest on the seven planets
of Antiquity
(and their associated deities) from which the day-names are derived:
Each opera is composed from an elaborated form of the corresponding day-segment of the superformula, made by superimposing one or more complete lines from the superformula, compressed to the length of the day-segment. These are named for the day in question (e.g., Mittwoch-Formel.) The separate acts and scenes often involve further superimpositions of formula material. For example, "Luzifers Traum", the first scene of Samstag, has a total of five layers (Kohl 1990 and 1993).
Each day is also assigned a principal (or "exoteric
") colour, as well as one or more secondary (or "esoteric
") colours (Stockhausen 1989b, 199–200).
, and the story is centered around this character. It opens in the foyer with a "greeting" for an ensemble of brass and percussion, followed in the theater by three acts, and ends outside the theater with a "farewell", played from the surrounding rooftops by five trumpeters.
Thursdays exoteric colour is bright blue.
Photos of Michaels Reise um die Erde
The 16-channel tape composition Unsichtbare Chöre (Invisible Choirs, 1979) is incorporated into act 1, and again into act 3, scene 1 (Stockhausen 1989a, 204). Stockhausen's Klavierstück XII is an arrangement of act 1, scene 3 (Stockhausen 1989a, 321). In addition, act 1, scene 1 was transcribed by the composer as Bijou, for alto flute, bass clarinet, and tape.
's day. It opens with the Samstags Gruß for four spatially separated brass ensembles with percussion (Bandur 1999), followed by four scenes:
scene 1: Luzifers Traum (Lucifer's Dream) (Klavierstück XIII
), for bass voice and pianoscene 2: Kathinkas Gesang als Luzifers Requiem (Kathinka's Chant as Lucifer's Requiem), for flute and six percussionists
scene 3: Luzifers Tanz (Lucifer's Dance), for symphony band (or orchestra), bass voice, solo piccolo, solo piccolo trumpet, solo dancer, stilt-dancer, and dancer-mimes
scene 4: Luzifers Abschied (Lucifer's Farewell), for male choir, seven trombones, and organ
Saturdays exoteric colour is black (Stockhausen 1989a, 200).
Photos of Luzifers Tanz
. It is the first part to feature an orchestra with synthesizers (called a "modern orchestra" by Stockhausen), backing 21 performers (14 voices, 6 instruments and an actor), as well as adult and children's choirs.
The opera is in three acts, with scenes and subscenes as follows:
Mondays exoteric colour is bright green; its esoteric colours are opal and silver (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
Photos of Montag aus Licht at La Scala, Milan
(titled "Oktophonie") projected in eight channels, with loudspeakers arranged at the corners of a cube shape around the audience. This octophonic electronic music can also be performed separately.
Tuesdays colour is red (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The opera falls into the following sections and subsections:
Photos of Dienstag aus Licht at the Leipzig Opera
Fridays colour is orange (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The ten real scenes are:
Photo of the scene Kinder-Tutti at the Leipzig Opera
(Helicopter String Quartet)—which is a piece, as the name implies, for four stringed instruments and four helicopters, the latter used both as a performatic device and as a sound source—and Michaelion. The greeting for Mittwoch is the electronic part of scene 4, and the farewell is the electronic music from scene 2. The latter, like the electronic music for act 2 of Dienstag, is projected octophonically through speakers arranged at the corners of a cube surrounding the audience.
Wednesdays colour is bright yellow (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The main divisions and their subdivisions are:
The farewell is an adaptation for five synthesizers of the choral part of Hoch-Zeiten, and also exists in two versions for soloist with tape: Strahlen for a percussionist, and Klavierstück XIX. Expanding on the multimedia
nature of an opera, which involves several art forms such as music, dance, theater and scenery, scene 4 involves yet another human sense, by including the release of fragrances towards the audience.
Scene 5 is actually two scenes in one, and consists of two parts: Hoch-Zeiten for five choirs and Hoch-Zeiten for five orchestral groups. These components are performed simultaneously in two separate auditoriums. At various points, acoustical "windows" are opened, through which the music from the other auditorium is "piped in" through loudspeakers. The scene is performed twice. After the interval, either the choir and orchestra change halls, or the divided audience does, in order that each group of listeners may experience the scene from both perspectives.
Other pieces are "source" compositions, intermediate between the superformula and final compositional elaboration into parts of one of the operas.
Some others are themselves elaborated from such source compositions, but follow a separate line of development:
There are four pieces made of versions of the formula for Mittwoch:
Also, there is
Finally, there is:
which sets a text from Aus den sieben Tagen
(1968), incorporating fragments of the Licht superformula.
, Covent Garden
, the Leipzig Opera, and the Cologne Opera
. Wednesday has yet to be staged in its entirety, though the scenes have had separate premières (as was also true for the other six operas). The four scenes of Wednesday were performed individually between 1996 and 1998. Plans were made to stage Wednesday in Bonn
in 2000 and in Bern in 2003, but both were canceled due to financial and technical problems. The entire cycle, however, was broadcast in a series on SWR2 between 2001 and 2007, introduced by the composer in conversation with Reinhard Ermen, including Mittwoch as the third installment in two parts on 23 and 30 October 2003 (Stockhausen-Verlag 2008, 6–9).
Performing such a piece is a challenge not only due to its length, but also due to the logistics
involved. Each part, and in many cases, each scene, is designed for a different composition of musicians, ranging from scenes written for a cappella choir to orchestra with synthesizer
to string quartet playing from helicopter
s above the concert hall.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s composed by Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
between 1977 and 2003. In total, the cycle contains over 29 hours of music.
Origin
The Licht opera project, originally titled Hikari (光 , Japanese for "light"), originated with a piece for dancers and GagakuGagaku
Gagaku is a type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial Court in Kyoto for several centuries. It consists of three primary repertoires:#Native Shinto religious music and folk songs and dance, called kuniburi no utamai...
orchestra commissioned by the National Theatre
National Theatre of Japan
The is a complex consisting of three halls in two buildings in Hayabusa-chō, a neighborhood in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The Japan Arts Council, an Independent Administrative Institution of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, operates the National Theatre...
in Tokyo. Titled Jahreslauf (Course of the Years), this piece became the first act of Dienstag. Another important Japanese influence is from Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
theater, which the composer cites in connection with his conception of stage action (Stockhausen, Conen, and Hennlich 1989, 282). The cycle also draws on elements from the Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...
and Vedic
Historical Vedic religion
The religion of the Vedic period is a historical predecessor of Hinduism. Its liturgy is reflected in the mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites...
traditions (Bruno 1999, 134). The title of Licht owes something to Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo , born Aurobindo Ghosh or Ghose , was an Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru, and poet. He joined the Indian movement for freedom from British rule and for a duration became one of its most important leaders, before developing his own vision of human progress...
's theory of "Agni
Agni
Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods...
" (the Hindu and Vedic fire deity), developed from two basic premises of nuclear physics, and Stockhausen's conception of the Licht superformula also owes a great deal to Sri Aurobindo's category of the "supramental" (Peters 2003, 227). It is centered around three main characters, Michael, Eve, and Lucifer.
Many of the events in the opera refer to The Urantia Book
The Urantia Book
The Urantia Book is a spiritual and philosophical book that discusses God, Jesus, science, cosmology, religion, history, and destiny. It originated in Chicago, Illinois, sometime between 1924 and 1955...
, which was sold to Stockhausen by a remarkable figure during his New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
concert in 1971 (Kurtz 1992, 188). In his analysis of the cycle, Gregg Wager states that "There can be little doubt … that Stockhausen's first and foremost inspiration for Lucifer's rebellion … originated from the Urantia Book … specific terms such as "Local System", "Planetary Princes" or Paradise Sons" can only be from the Urantia Book" (Wager 1998, 193). Wager also points to the fact that Michael is clearly identified in Donnerstag as originating from "Nebadon", which is another location name peculiar to the Urantia Book (Wager 1998, 194). The emblems of Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
and Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
in Licht are also derived from the Urantia Book (Bandur 2004, 142).
According to Stockhausen biographer Michael Kurtz, "Michael, Lucifer and Eve are, for Stockhausen, more than theatrical figures. They are the expression of a world beyond, to which terrestrial eyes are blind, but which is given concrete form by The Urantia Book and other sources" (Kurtz 1992, 228). Wager also takes care to assert that Lucifer, Eve, and Michael are "personal inventions of Stockhausen's that were made more meaningful through the Urantia Book. … The listener can also assume that Stockhausen has used these symbols freely and enjoys the style of absurdist theater manifested in Originale where no clear meaning is apparent" (Wager 1998, 208). Furthermore, according to Markus Bandur, the Urantia Book references are concealed by means of associative strategies to other fields of meaning and, as work progressed on Licht after the first-composed opera, Donnerstag, their significance progressively diminishes (Bandur 2004, 144).
Structure
The musical structure of the cycle is based on three counterpointed main melodies (or "formulas"), each associated with a central character. It follows the method of super-formula compositionFormula composition
Formula composition is a serially-derived technique encountered principally in the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen, involving the projection, expansion, and Ausmultiplikation of either a single melody-formula, or a two- or three-voice contrapuntal construction .In contrast to serial music, where the...
: these melodies define both the tonal centers and durations of scenes as a whole, as well as the melodic phrasing in detail. Each of the three central characters is also associated with an instrument: Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
with the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, Eve
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
with the basset horn, and Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
with the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
.
The Licht Superformula
Stockhausen's conception of opera is more akin to the tableaux
Tableau vivant
Tableau vivant is French for "living picture." The term describes a striking group of suitably costumed actors or artist's models, carefully posed and often theatrically lit. Throughout the duration of the display, the people shown do not speak or move...
of the Renaissance masque
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
and its hermetic
Hermeticism
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus...
cosmology than to traditional dramatic
Dramatic structure
Dramatic structure is the structure of a dramatic work such as a play or film. Many scholars have analyzed dramatic structure, beginning with Aristotle in his Poetics...
and climactic
Climax
- Common general uses :* Climax * Climax * Climax community* Climax vegetation in an ecosystem* Sexual climax, another term for orgasm- Brand names and titles :* The Climax, a 1944 film...
structures typical of the past two centuries (Godwin 1998, 354).
The cycle is constructed modularly
Modularity
Modularity is a general systems concept, typically defined as a continuum describing the degree to which a system’s components may be separated and recombined. It refers to both the tightness of coupling between components, and the degree to which the “rules” of the system architecture enable the...
. Not only is each of the seven operas a self-sufficient work, but so are the individual acts, scenes, and—in some cases—portions of scenes. These modules may be segments (e.g., the eleven instrumental solo sections from Orchester-Finalisten from Mittwoch), or layers (e.g., the electronic Oktophonie layer from the second act of Dienstag or the Klavierstück XIII
Klavierstücke (Stockhausen)
The Klavierstücke constitute a series of nineteen compositions by German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.Stockhausen has said the Klavierstücke "are my drawings"...
version of the first scene of Samstag (Luzifers Traum), with the bass voice omitted), or a combination of the two (e.g., the vocal sextet Menschen, hört and the Bassetsu-Trio, which are two layers of the "Karusel" subscene from Michaelion, the fourth scene of Mittwoch).
Parts
There are seven operas, each named for a day of the weekWeek-day names
The names of the days of the week from the Roman period have been both named after the seven planets of classical astronomy and numbered, beginning with Monday. In Slavic languages, a numbering system was adopted, but beginning with Monday. There was an even older tradition of names in Ancient...
, whose subject matter reflects attributes associated in traditional mythologies
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
with each day. These attributes in turn rest on the seven planets
Planets in astrology
Planets in astrology have a meaning different from the modern astronomical understanding of what a planet is. Before the age of telescopes, the night sky was thought to consist of two very similar components: fixed stars, which remained motionless in relation to each other, and wandering stars, ,...
of Antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
(and their associated deities) from which the day-names are derived:
- Monday = The MoonMoon (astrology)The Moon is the Earth's companion satellite. The Moon is large enough for its gravity to affect the Earth, stabilising its orbit and producing the regular ebb and flow of the tides. The Moon is also familiar to us for its different phases, waxing and waning in appearance in an unchanging cycle...
- Tuesday = MarsMars (mythology)Mars was the Roman god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions...
- Wednesday = MercuryMercury (mythology)Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
- Thursday = JupiterJupiter (mythology)In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
- Friday = VenusVenus (mythology)Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
- Saturday = SaturnSaturn (mythology)In ancient Roman religion and myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. His reign was depicted as a Golden Age of abundance and peace by many Roman authors. In medieval times he was known as the Roman god of agriculture, justice and strength. He held a sickle in...
- Sunday = The SunSun (astrology)The sun is considered a very important part of astrology. It, as well as the Moon, are the most important of the astrological planets, and the two of them are often referred to as the luminaries. In Greek mythology the sun was represented by Apollo, the god of light, and Helios, the god of the sun...
Each opera is composed from an elaborated form of the corresponding day-segment of the superformula, made by superimposing one or more complete lines from the superformula, compressed to the length of the day-segment. These are named for the day in question (e.g., Mittwoch-Formel.) The separate acts and scenes often involve further superimpositions of formula material. For example, "Luzifers Traum", the first scene of Samstag, has a total of five layers (Kohl 1990 and 1993).
Each day is also assigned a principal (or "exoteric
Exoteric
Exoteric refers to knowledge that is outside of and independent from anyone's experience and can be ascertained by anyone. Compare Common sense. It is distinguished from internal esoteric knowledge. Exoteric relates to "external reality" as opposed to one's own thoughts or feelings. It is knowledge...
") colour, as well as one or more secondary (or "esoteric
Esotericism
Esotericism or Esoterism signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs, that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group or those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. The term derives from the Greek , a compound of : "within", thus "pertaining to the more inward",...
") colours (Stockhausen 1989b, 199–200).
Thursday
Donnerstag is an opera for 14 performers (3 voices, 8 instrumentalists, 3 dancers) plus a choir, an orchestra, and tapes. It was the first part of Licht to be written, between 1978 and 1980. Thursday is the day of the archangel MichaelMichael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
, and the story is centered around this character. It opens in the foyer with a "greeting" for an ensemble of brass and percussion, followed in the theater by three acts, and ends outside the theater with a "farewell", played from the surrounding rooftops by five trumpeters.
- Donnerstags-Gruß (Thursday's Greeting)
- act 1: Michaels Jugend (Michael's Youth)
- scene 1: Kindheit (Childhood)
- scene 2: Mondeva (Moon-Eve)
- scene 3: Examen (Examination)
- Erstes Examen (First Examination)
- Zweites Examen (Second Examination)
- Drittes Examen (Third Examination)
- act 2: Michaels Reise um die Erde
- Eingang und Formel (Entrance and Formula)
- Erste Station (First Station): Germany
- Zweite Station (Second Station): New York
- Dritte Station (Third Station): Japan
- Vierte Station (Fourth Station): Bali
- Fünfte Station (Fifth Station): India
- Sechste Station (Sixth Station): Central Africa
- Siebte Station (Seventh Station): Jerusalem
- Mission
- Verspottung (Derision)
- Kreuzigung (Crucifixion)
- Himmelfahrt (Ascension)
- act 3: Michaels Heimkehr (Michael's Homecoming)
- scene 1: Festival
- scene 2: Vision
- Donnerstags-Abschied (Thursday's Farewell)
Thursdays exoteric colour is bright blue.
Photos of Michaels Reise um die Erde
The 16-channel tape composition Unsichtbare Chöre (Invisible Choirs, 1979) is incorporated into act 1, and again into act 3, scene 1 (Stockhausen 1989a, 204). Stockhausen's Klavierstück XII is an arrangement of act 1, scene 3 (Stockhausen 1989a, 321). In addition, act 1, scene 1 was transcribed by the composer as Bijou, for alto flute, bass clarinet, and tape.
Saturday
Samstag is an opera for 13 solo performers (1 voice, 10 instrumentalists, and 2 dancers) plus a symphonic band (or symphony orchestra), ballet or mimes, and male choir with organ. It was composed between 1981 and 1983. Saturday is LuciferLucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
's day. It opens with the Samstags Gruß for four spatially separated brass ensembles with percussion (Bandur 1999), followed by four scenes:
Klavierstücke (Stockhausen)
The Klavierstücke constitute a series of nineteen compositions by German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.Stockhausen has said the Klavierstücke "are my drawings"...
), for bass voice and piano
Saturdays exoteric colour is black (Stockhausen 1989a, 200).
Photos of Luzifers Tanz
Monday
Montag, composed between 1984 and 1988. is dedicated to EveAdam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
. It is the first part to feature an orchestra with synthesizers (called a "modern orchestra" by Stockhausen), backing 21 performers (14 voices, 6 instruments and an actor), as well as adult and children's choirs.
The opera is in three acts, with scenes and subscenes as follows:
- Montags-Gruß (Monday's Greeting)
- act 1: Evas Erstgeburt (Eve's First Birth-giving)
- scene 1: In Hoffnung (Expecting)
- scene 2: HeinzelmännchenHeinzelmännchenThe Heinzelmännchen are a race of creatures appearing in a tale connected with the city of Cologne in Germany.The little house gnomes are said to have done all the work of the citizens of Cologne during the night, so that the inhabitants of Cologne could be very lazy during the day...
- scene 3: Geburts-Arien (Birth Arias)
- scene 4: Knaben-Geschrei (Boys' Hullaballoo)
- scene 5: Luzifers Zorn (Lucifer's Fury)
- scene 6: Das große Geweine (The Great Weeping)
- act 2: Evas Zweitgeburt (Eve's Second Birth-giving)
- scene 1: Mädchenprozession (Girls' Prozession)
- scene 2: Befruchtung mit Klavierstück—Wiedergeburt (Conception with Piano Piece—Rebirth)
- scene 3: Evas Lied (Eve's Song)
- act 3: Evas Zauber (Eve's Magic)
- scene 1: Botschaft (Message)
- scene 2: Der Kinderfänger (The Pied Piper) [literally, "The Child-Catcher"]
- scene 3: Entführung (Abduction)
- Montags-Abschied (Monday's Farewell)
Mondays exoteric colour is bright green; its esoteric colours are opal and silver (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
Photos of Montag aus Licht at La Scala, Milan
Tuesday
After having composed the three "solo" operas, Stockhausen proceeded to explore all combinations of the characters. Dienstag is the day of conflict between Michael and Lucifer. After the opening greeting, two acts follow: Jahreslauf (Course of the Years) and Invasion-Explosion mit Abschied (Invasion-Explosion with Farewell). Dienstag is an opera for 17 performers (3 solo voices, 10 solo instrumentalists, and 4 dancer-mimes), actors, mimes, choir, a "modern orchestra" (29 to 32 instruments including synthesizers) and, in the second act, electronic musicElectronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
(titled "Oktophonie") projected in eight channels, with loudspeakers arranged at the corners of a cube shape around the audience. This octophonic electronic music can also be performed separately.
Tuesdays colour is red (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The opera falls into the following sections and subsections:
- Dienstags-Gruß, Nr. 60 (1987–88)
- Willkommen
- Friedens-Gruß
- Act 1: Jahreslauf (Course of the Years), Nr. 47 (1977/1991)
- Act 2: Invasion-Explosion mit Abschied (Invasion-Explosion with Farewell), Nr. 61 (1990–91)
- Erste Luftabwehr (First Air-defense)
- Erste Invasion (First Invasion)
- Zweite Luftabwehr (Second Air-defense)
- Zweite Invasion (Second Invasion)
- Pietà
- Dritte Invasion (Third Invasion)
- Jenseits (Beyond)
- Synthi-Fou
- Abschied (Farewell)
Photos of Dienstag aus Licht at the Leipzig Opera
Friday
Freitag, written between 1991 and 1994, portrays Eve's temptation by Lucifer. The whole is divided into two acts, and has a novel structure: apart from the greeting and farewell, it is composed of two layers of scenes: ten "real scenes" with live performers on stage and twelve "sound scenes" with electronic transformations of familiar sounds, both performed simultaneously over a third layer of abstract electronic music. It is a complex production headed by 5 acting musicians (soprano, baritone, bass, flute, basset horn) as well as 12 couples of dancer-mimes, children's orchestra, children's choir, 12 choir singers, synthesizer player, electronic music with sound scenes.Fridays colour is orange (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The ten real scenes are:
Photo of the scene Kinder-Tutti at the Leipzig Opera
Wednesday
Mittwoch is characterized by the cooperation of Eve, Michael and Lucifer. This opera, composed between 1992 and 1998, consists of four scenes: Welt-Parlament (World Parliament), Orchester-Finalisten (Orchestra Finalists), Helikopter-StreichquartettHelikopter-Streichquartett
The Helikopter-Streichquartett is one of Karlheinz Stockhausen's best-known pieces, and one of the most complex to perform. It involves a string quartet, four helicopters with pilots, as well as audio and video equipment and technicians. It was first performed and recorded in 1995...
(Helicopter String Quartet)—which is a piece, as the name implies, for four stringed instruments and four helicopters, the latter used both as a performatic device and as a sound source—and Michaelion. The greeting for Mittwoch is the electronic part of scene 4, and the farewell is the electronic music from scene 2. The latter, like the electronic music for act 2 of Dienstag, is projected octophonically through speakers arranged at the corners of a cube surrounding the audience.
Wednesdays colour is bright yellow (Stockhausen 1989b, 200).
The main divisions and their subdivisions are:
- Mittwochs-Gruß
- Scene 1: Welt-Parlament
- Scene 2: Orchester-Finalisten
- Oboe
- Violoncello
- Klarinette
- Fagott
- Violine
- Tuba
- Flöte
- Posaune
- Viola
- Trompete
- Kontrabaß
- Horn
- Orchester-Tutti
- Scene 3: Helikopter-StreichquartettHelikopter-StreichquartettThe Helikopter-Streichquartett is one of Karlheinz Stockhausen's best-known pieces, and one of the most complex to perform. It involves a string quartet, four helicopters with pilots, as well as audio and video equipment and technicians. It was first performed and recorded in 1995...
- Scene 4: Michaelion
- Präsidium
- Luzikamel
- KakabelKokabielKokabiel , also spelled Kôkabîêl, Kôkhabîêl, Kakabel, Kochbiel, Kokbiel, Kabaiel, or Kochab, considered the 'angel of the stars,' is a fallen angel, the fourth mentioned of the 20 Watcher leaders of the 200 fallen angels in the Book of Enoch...
- Shoe-Shine Serenade
- Taschen-Trick (Pocket Trick)
- Kamel-Tanz (Camel Dance)
- Stierkampf (Bullfight)
- Kakabel
- Operator
- Thinki
- Bassetsu Trio (Karussell) (Carousel)
- "Menschen, hört" (Raum-Sextette) ("Listen, People"—Space-Sextet)
- Mittwochs-Abschied
Sunday
Sonntag, written between 1998 and 2003, is centered on the mystical union of Eve and Michael. It is an opera with five scenes and a farewell:- scene 1: Lichter-Wasser (Sonntags-Gruß) (Lights-Waters—Sunday's Greeting), for soprano, tenor, and orchestra with synthesizer
- scene 2: Engel-Prozessionen (Angel-Processions), for seven choral groups
- scene 3: Licht-Bilder (Light-Pictures), for tenor, ring-modulated flute, basset horn, and ring-modulated trumpet
- scene 4: Düfte-Zeichen (Scents-Signs), for 7 solo voices, boy soprano, and synthesizer
- scenes 5: Hoch-Zeiten (Weddings, but literally: High-Times), for choir and orchestra
- Sonntags-Abschied (Sunday's Farewell), for five synthesizers
The farewell is an adaptation for five synthesizers of the choral part of Hoch-Zeiten, and also exists in two versions for soloist with tape: Strahlen for a percussionist, and Klavierstück XIX. Expanding on the multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
nature of an opera, which involves several art forms such as music, dance, theater and scenery, scene 4 involves yet another human sense, by including the release of fragrances towards the audience.
Scene 5 is actually two scenes in one, and consists of two parts: Hoch-Zeiten for five choirs and Hoch-Zeiten for five orchestral groups. These components are performed simultaneously in two separate auditoriums. At various points, acoustical "windows" are opened, through which the music from the other auditorium is "piped in" through loudspeakers. The scene is performed twice. After the interval, either the choir and orchestra change halls, or the divided audience does, in order that each group of listeners may experience the scene from both perspectives.
Luziferium
The notable absence of the third main character, Lucifer, from the opening scene of Sunday, is explained by Stockhausen's description of an accessory scene, called Luziferium, intended to be performed simultaneously with Sonntag, but in a different place, symbolizing the imprisonment of Lucifer, away from Eve and Michael. This scene was sketched, but was never written.Auxiliary works
Apart from the versions of various scenes that can be performed separately, and arrangements of such scenes, there are some pieces that lie outside of the Licht cycle proper, and yet are closely related to it. For example, the Licht superformula itself is adapted as a brief "signalling" piece:- Licht-Ruf, Nr. 67, for variable ensemble (1995)
Other pieces are "source" compositions, intermediate between the superformula and final compositional elaboration into parts of one of the operas.
- Michaels-Ruf, 1. ex Nr. 48½, for variable ensemble (1978), the unscored basic material for the Donnerstags-Gruß
- Xi, 1. ex Nr. 55, for a melody instrument with microtones (1986), the "seed" material for the Montags-Gruß
Some others are themselves elaborated from such source compositions, but follow a separate line of development:
- Traum-Formel, Nr. 51⅔, for basset horn (1981) a recomposition of the formula of the first scene of Samstag
- Flautina, ex 56½, for flute with piccolo and alto flute (1989), related to the scene "In Hoffnung" from the first act of Montag
- Quitt, for alto flute, clarinet, and trumpet, Nr. 1 ex 59 (1989), composed out from the basic plan of the Montags-Abschied
- Ypsilon, Nr. 2 ex 59, for a melody instrument with microtones (1989), also elaborated from the Montags-Abschied plan
- Sukat, Nr. 2 ex 60, for alto flute and basset horn (1989), based on the portion of the Tuesday formula used for the Dienstags-Gruß
- Vibra-Elufa, Nr. 9¾ ex 64, for vibraphone (2003), based on the ninth "real scene" of Freitag (itself used as a source composition for other parts of that opera)
- Thinki, Nr. 1 ex 70, for flute (1997), recomposed from material in Michaelion, the final scene of Mittwoch
There are four pieces made of versions of the formula for Mittwoch:
- Europa-Gruß, Nr. 72, for winds (1992/2002)
- Trumpetent, Nr. 73, for four trumpets (1995)
- Mittwoch-Formel, Nr. 73½, for percussion trio (2004)
- Klavierstück XVIIIKlavierstücke (Stockhausen)The Klavierstücke constitute a series of nineteen compositions by German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.Stockhausen has said the Klavierstücke "are my drawings"...
(Mittwoch-Formel), Nr. 73⅔, for synthesizer (2004)
Also, there is
- StrahlenStrahlenStrahlen for a percussionist and ten-channel sound recording is a composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen, and is Nr. 80½ in his catalog of works. Its performing duration is 35 minutes.-History:...
, Nr. 80½, for a percussionist and ten-channel sound recording (2002), fashioned from Hoch-Zeiten for choir
Finally, there is:
- Litanei 97, Nr. 74, for choir and conductor (1997)
which sets a text from Aus den sieben Tagen
Aus den Sieben Tagen
Aus den sieben Tagen is a collection of 15 text compositions by Karlheinz Stockhausen, composed in May 1968, in reaction to a personal crisis, and characterized as "Intuitive music"—music produced primarily from the intuition rather than the intellect of the performer...
(1968), incorporating fragments of the Licht superformula.
Performances
Work on Licht began in 1977, and was finished in 2003, though the final scene was performed for the first time in 2004. Six of the operas have been staged at La ScalaLa Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
, Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, the Leipzig Opera, and the Cologne Opera
Cologne Opera
The Cologne Opera refers both to the main opera house in Cologne, Germany and to its resident opera company.-History of the company:...
. Wednesday has yet to be staged in its entirety, though the scenes have had separate premières (as was also true for the other six operas). The four scenes of Wednesday were performed individually between 1996 and 1998. Plans were made to stage Wednesday in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
in 2000 and in Bern in 2003, but both were canceled due to financial and technical problems. The entire cycle, however, was broadcast in a series on SWR2 between 2001 and 2007, introduced by the composer in conversation with Reinhard Ermen, including Mittwoch as the third installment in two parts on 23 and 30 October 2003 (Stockhausen-Verlag 2008, 6–9).
Performing such a piece is a challenge not only due to its length, but also due to the logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
involved. Each part, and in many cases, each scene, is designed for a different composition of musicians, ranging from scenes written for a cappella choir to orchestra with synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
to string quartet playing from helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s above the concert hall.
World premières
- Donnerstag (Thursday) - 1981, at La ScalaLa ScalaLa Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in Milan - Samstag (Saturday) - May 1984, at La Scala in Milan
- Montag (Monday) - 1988, at La Scala in Milan
- Dienstag (Tuesday) - 1993, at the Leipzig Opera
- Freitag (Friday) - September 1996 - at the Leipzig Opera
- Mittwoch (Wednesday) - 1996-1998, not yet staged as a whole
- I - Welt-Parlament ("World Parliament") 1996, Stuttgart
- II - Orchester-Finalisten ("Orchestra Finalists") 1996, Holland FestivalHolland FestivalThe Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
, Amsterdam - III - Helikopter-Streichquartett 1995 Holland Festival, Amsterdam
- IV - Michaelion 26 July 1998, in the PrinzregententheaterPrinzregententheaterThe Prinzregententheater, or Prince Regent's Theatre, is a theatre and opera house located at 12 Prinzregentenplatz in the Bavarian city of Munich, Germany.- Building and History :...
, Munich (Musica Viva series)
- Sonntag (Sunday) - 1999–2003, premiered on 9 and 10 April 2011 (in two parts) by musikFabrikMusikfabrikThe musikFabrik is an ensemble for contemporary music located in Cologne. Their official name is: musikFabrik Landesensemble NRW e.V. .-Overview:...
, Capella Amsterdam, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber ChoirEstonian Philharmonic Chamber ChoirThe Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is a professional choir based in Estonia. It was founded in 1981 by Tõnu Kaljuste, who was its conductor for twenty years. In 2001, Paul Hillier followed Kaljuste's tenure, becoming the EPCC's principal conductor and artistic director until September 2008,...
, Choir of the Cologne OperaCologne OperaThe Cologne Opera refers both to the main opera house in Cologne, Germany and to its resident opera company.-History of the company:...
, Dance Ensemble, and La Fura dels BausLa Fura dels BausLa Fura dels Baus is a Catalan theatrical group founded in 1979 in Barcelona, known for their urban theatre, use of unusual settings and blurring of the boundaries between audience and actor. "La Fura dels Baus" in Catalan means "vermin from the sewers"....
in CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
(Ulrich 2011)- I - Lichter-Wasser (Sonntags-Gruß) ("Lights-Waters (Sunday Greeting)") - October 1999, at the Donaueschingen FestivalDonaueschingen FestivalThe Donaueschingen Festival is a festival for new music that takes place every October in the small town of Donaueschingen...
- II - Engel-Prozessionen ("Angel Processions") - 9 November 2002, at the ConcertgebouwConcertgebouwThe Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
in Amsterdam - III - Licht-Bilder ("Light-Pictures") - October 2004 at the Donaueschingen Festival
- IV - Düfte-Zeichen ("Scents-Signs") - August 2003, at the Salzburg FestivalSalzburg FestivalThe Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
- V - Hoch-Zeiten ("High-Times") - February 2003, in Las Palmas de Gran CanariaLas Palmas de Gran CanariaLas Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
- Sonntags-Abschied ("Sunday's Farewell") - 2004, at the Stockhausen Courses in KürtenKürtenKürten is a village and a municipality in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Neighbouring places:Nearby cities include Bergisch Gladbach, Overath, Wermelskirchen, and Wipperfürth...
- I - Lichter-Wasser (Sonntags-Gruß) ("Lights-Waters (Sunday Greeting)") - October 1999, at the Donaueschingen Festival