Jozsef Sari: Alienated Quotations

Jozsef Sari (1935– )
"Verfremdete Zitate (Alienated Quotations) is an isolated, unrepeatable instance in my output. In this work, I tried to express in a special way my profound admiration for J. S. Bach. It has a three-part form and although not one of the tones was written by me, I would still consider the work as a whole to have its own independent identity. The first and second movements are based on the A minor Prelude in Book 2 of Bach’s Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, while the third movement is based on the E minor Fugue in Book 1. My method of composition was to use only the notes I needed from these pieces. The ”recycled” notes are linked together either by means of pauses or by extending the earlier note, occasionally with changes to its rhythm. Each tone is heard at exactly the same point as in the Bach original. However, with the exception of the first movement I did not conform to the registrer of the originals, so that although the notes are still identical, they are played one or more octaves higher or lower than in the Bach. As both the Bach pieces are extremely chromatic, I managed to write parts of the work sounding like a free dodecaphonic style. In the second half of the third movement I finally show my true character – i.e. at this point the E minor fugue is heard without ”alienation”, simultaneously with my version. The use of a prepared piano in places also contributes to the effect of alienation. Te work is dedicated to Ádám Fellegi, who gave the first performance in Budapest in 1985."
Jozsef Sari