Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka

Complete Work Title: 

Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka

Performance Medium: 

narrator, mixed choir (24-voice SATB), and computer music.

Movements: 
  1. Die Brücke
  2. Der Geier
Duration: 

c.12:00

Dedication: 

to Henry Gibbons and Canticum novum

Date Composed: 

February - October 2006

Performance 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.
Additional Information: 
  • 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).
Performance/Broadcast History: 
  • 10 April 2022; broadcast on "Martian Gardens” with Max Shea (Episode 1102), WMUA-FM (Amhurst, MA)
  • 8 October 2018; radio broadcast on "Celebrating Our Musical Future” with David Osenburg, WWFM (Trenton, NJ)
  • 19 February 2014; broadcast on "Martian Gardens” with Max Shea, WMUA-FM (Amhurst, MA) ["Die Brücke" only]
  • 16 February 2014; broadcast on "Martian Gardens” with Max Shea, WMUA-FM (Amhurst, MA) ["Die Brücke" only]

    Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum

  • 5 October 2013; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) ["Die Brücke" only]

    Andrew Justice, narrator; Richard Sparks, conductor

  • 20 November 2006; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) [premiere of complete work]

    Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum

  • 26 September 2006; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) — UNT Choral Gala ["Die Brücke" only]

    Morris Martin, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum

  • 4 April 2006; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) [Die Brücke only; premiere]

    Jeffrey Snider, narrator; Henry Gibbons, Canticum novum

Downloads & Links: 

score (pdf)

audio recording  (YouTube, with score follower)
Studio recording recorded January 2011, University of North Texas; Jeffrey Snider (narrator), Henry Gibbons (conductor).

video recording of Die Brücke (YouTube) Recorded 5 October 2013, University of North Texas; Andrew Justice (narrator), Richard Sparks (conductor).

Program Notes: 

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).



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