Dorothea Hofmann

5 bairische Intermezzi

Although the five songs that form the basis of the "Bairische Intermezzi" originate from different regions of southern Germany, they all belong to the same musical culture of the Alpine region. This explains the spelling "Bairisch," which refers to the linguistic region of southeastern High German dialects. Three of the songs have a very dance-like character, including a "Zwiefacher" with its typical and inspiring alternation between odd and even time signatures. In contrast, the two quiet songs evoke the intimacy of singing together and the poignancy of the typical three-part harmony, the "Dreigesang." All five songs are not intended as "arrangements," but rather as "commentaries" on the original songs—they capture their mood, quote individual motifs, but develop them independently. (Dorothea Hofmann)