In Memoriam
US premiere; after Serhiy Zhadan
Performed by The Rhythm Method (String quartet)
“In Memoriam,” after Serhiy Zhadan, was inspired by a piercing verse of his, «Пам’яті всіх» (“In the memory of everyone”). Initially planned as a composition for choir, it retains a strong connection to the lyrics, which are basically uttered by the instruments. The tonality of B-flat minor underscores the mournful atmosphere, with the central motif introduced by the cello’s opening notes, creating allusions to a passing-bell. The dense polyphony reflects the intertwined fates of those silenced or erased by the brutal forces of war — a cry for remembrance, an elegy for lives lost and forgotten.