Markus Götz

Swiss Mosaic

Markus Götz used three Swiss folk songs in his spectacular composition 'Schweizer Mosaik' (Swiss Mosaic): 'S'isch mer alles ei ding, ob i lach oder sing', 'La haut sur la montagne' and 'Zoog ä-n am Boogä'. In doing so he processed the thematic material of the songs in fragments to create an independent concert work - like a mosaic where many small stones form one big picture. It was a personal matter for the composer to present the Swiss as he experiences the country: both traditional and modern at the same time. Therefore he uses the songs with a new livery. Ländler melodies meet baroque music forms like the fugue, but even reminiscences of popular music appear. The middle part (Largo) is inspired by the splendid Swiss Alpine world and includes two special features. For one, the euphonium soloist stands off-stage and resounds as an echo. For another, at least three persons play untuned cowbells of different sizes. It is important that there is no rhythm, but they must sound as on a mountain meadow. Markus Götz created an impressive tone picture of a versatile country. The composition is dedicated to the conductor Ueli Zurbuchen for his leave of the Musikgesellschaft Ringgenberg.