Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka

Complete Work Title:

Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka

Performance Medium:

narrator, mixed choir, and computer music

Duration:

12:00

Date Composed:

January – May 2006

Dedication:

to Henry Gibbons and Canticum novum

Movements:

Die Brücke
Der Geier

Additional Information:

Either of the two movements may be performed separately.
The stereo computer music may be played from a computer or a CD player, which may be operated by the narrator or a separate sound engineer.
Finalist, Texas chapter submission to the International Society of Contemporary Music World Music Days 2019.
Included on Volume 39 of the Consortium to Distribute Computer Music series (Centaur CRC-3219, 2012).

Recordings:

Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, conductor. Recorded January 8 & 13, 2011, University of North Texas Recital Hall (Denton, TX).

“Die Brücke”: Andrew Justice, narrator; Richard Sparks, conductor. Performed 5 October 2013, University of North Texas Voertman Concert Hall (Denton, TX).

Score:

Program Note:

Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka is a setting of two of Kafka’s parables—“Die Brücke” (“The Bridge”) and “Der Geier” (“The Vulture”)—for narrator, mixed choir, and pre-recorded computer music. The choir part is comprised of fragments from Kafka’s texts in the original German, while the narrator reads the complete texts in English translation. The computer music is derived entirely from the choral music, which has been manipulated in order to extend the timbral and textural range of the ensemble.

Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka was composed between January and May of 2006 for Henry Gibbons and Canticum novum, who first performed the complete work on 20 November 2006 at the University of North Texas. It is included on the album Music from the University of North Texas Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia, CDCM Vol. 39 (Centaur CRC-3219, 2012).

Performance/Broadcast History:

Date	Venue	Location	Performer(s)
10 April 2022	radio broadcast on WMUA-FM—"Martian Gardens” with Max Shea	Amhurst, MA	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, conductor
8 October 2018	radio broadcast on WWFM-Trenton—"Celebrating Our Musical Future” with David Osenburg	Trenton, NJ	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, conductor
19 February 2014	radio broadcast on WMUA-FM—"Martian Gardens” with Max Shea	Amhurst, MA	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, conductor
16 February 2014	radio broadcast on WMUA-FM—"Martian Gardens” with Max Shea	Amhurst, MA	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, conductor
5 October 2013	University of North Texas—2013 CEMIcircles Festival	Denton, TX	Andrew Justice, narrator; Richard Sparks, conductor
20 November 2006	University of North Texas	Denton, TX	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum.
26 September 2006	University of North Texas—UNT Choral Gala	Denton, TX	Morris Martin, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum.
4 April 2006	University of North Texas	Denton, TX	Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum