Sergei Pilyutikov: "Cantus Supra Librum for Orchestra"

The Free Association for Palestrina's Music gave the impetus for the composition of "Cantus supra librum for symphony orchestra," which was written in 1998. Three years later the work received the DW Composition Prize.

Its intuitive reactions and free forms draw a connection to medieval principles of improvisation, where the theme is passed between singers and slightly varied each time.

"My form of harmonization is based on the principles of the mathematical group theory," said the composer. "This allowed me to create different ensembles within the orchestra."

Sergei Pilyutikov was born in Uzin, Ukraine in 1965. Since completing his composition studies at the Academy of Charkov he has made his home in Kiev. There he founded Ensemble Ricochet, a group of young musicians specializing in contemporary music. Pilyutikov is the director of the International Youth Music Forum in Kiev.

The performance by the Ukrainian National Music Academy's symphony orchestra was part of the Beethovenfest Bonn and took place in the Beethovenhalle.