Carola Bauckholt

Treibstoff

Treibstoff by Carola Bauckholt is an 11-minute work for ensemble (Flute (doubling Bass Flute), Clarinet in Bb, Percussion, Piano, Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Double Bass). As hearing immediately confirms, it is an expressive title: it literally means 'fuel' or 'propellant'. The listener enters the piece as if a door were suddenly pushed open and he or she were stood in the midst of a teeming mass of sound creatures, which, because they have legs of different lengths, strive forward faster or slower. There is a hectic hustle and bustle. Each of the instruments has a different gain and the simultaneity of all these 'sounds in motion' results in an impenetrably dense rhythmic field of repetitive figures. Treibstoff was premiered on 6 October 1995 at the Kulturrathaus Dresden by the Thürmchen Ensemble under the direction of Roland Kluttig. The full score of this work (EP 14539) is available for sale as part of the Peters Contemporary Library. The performance material can be hired.