About Time - A new work for string orchestra by Máté Bella
'About Time' is an exciting meeting of old samples and modern minimal music elements.
TIME - LIFE - DEATH - DARKNESS - LIGHT: the eternal themes of the arts. These phenomena are especially important in music since the visual sensations that can be created by musical sounds have been preoccupying composers for centuries. The musical perception of segmented and unsegmented time - as well as their changing musical philosophical approaches from age to age - have received special attention in contemporary music since the emergence of the experimental musical wave at the end of the 20th century.
In the slow-fast-slow-fast movement structure, as well as in the constant contrast between the solo instruments and the tutti sound, we can recognize the traditions of the Baroque concerto grosso. The virtuoso rhythms of the fast movements were also inspired by the motoric movements of the baroque concertos, but the timbre is richer than the sound of the baroque string ensembles due to the many split parts and divided solos. The movement titles (and the melodic elements evoking the Dies irae sequence in the 4th movement) refer to poetic and visual visions that the listener must hear for themselves from the sounds – since music can convey messages even without words.