A 6 Letter Letter for English horn (1996) | Compositions

Dedication: Paul Sacher
Buy Score: Hendon Music (Boosey & Hawkes)
Manuscripts: Paul Sacher Stiftung

Premiere: Apr 27, 1996/ Heinz Holliger, oboe/ Casino, Basel

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6 Letter Letter clip

A 6 Letter Letter was composed to be played as a surprise encore at the conclusion of a concert given in Basel, Switzerland, April 27, 1996 to celebrate Dr. Paul Sacher’s 90th birthday and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Paul Sacher Foundation. As the concert concluded with a performance by Heinz Holliger of my Oboe Concerto, I decided to write Holliger an encore using his English horn. This short solo was composed in New York, during March, 1996 and uses only the six pitches associated with the name Sacher: Eb (Es), A, C, H, E, D (re)

– Elliott Carter

Recordings (3)

Lauds and Lamentations: Music of Elliott Carter and Isang Yun
ECM New Series 1848/9 (2003)
Heinz Holliger, English horn | Thomas Zehetmair, violin | Ruth Killius | Thomas Demenga, cello
Ensemble Contrechamps: Elliott Carter
Accord 206842 (1998)
Heinz Holliger, English horn | Félix Renggli, flute; Daniel Haefliger, cello; Sébastien Risler, piano; Ensemble Contrechamps: René Meyer, clarinet; François Volpé, percussion (+1)
10 Jahre Paul Sacher Stiftung
Editiones Roche 72118 (1996)
Heinz Holliger, English horn | Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, conductor