Paul Klee : Painted Songs

Inspired by "Twittering Machine," a painting by Paul Klee. Part of an ongoing set of pieces based on paintings by the same artist.

Recorded in Madison, WI in a public reading by members of NUNC.

Twittering Machine (Die Zwitchser-Maschine, 1922) - No. 1 from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

Recorded by Kurt Hattenberger, April 23, 2021 Livestream

Fugue in Red (Fuge in Rot, 1921) - No. 4b from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded at Dordt College, March 2012 as part of Jonathan Posthuma's Senior Recital.

Emil Talen, tuba
Jonathan Posthuma, vibraphone/marimba

Red Balloon (Roter Balloon, 1922) - No. 6a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded at Dordt College, March 2012 as part of Jonathan Posthuma's Senior Recital.

Kristen Raygor, tenor saxophone; 
Jonathan Posthuma, vibraphone


Separation in the Evening (Scheidung Abend, 1929) - No. 7a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded at Dordt College, March 2012 as part of Jonathan Posthuma's Senior Recital.


Kristen Raygor, tenor saxophone; 
Jonathan Posthuma, vibraphone

Fire in the Evening (Feur am Abend, 1929) - No. 8a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Premiered by American Modern Ensemble
June 14, 2018, Mostly Modern Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY

"Dream City" (Traum-Stadt, 1921)
Luminescent green, blue, pink, and silver shapes shimmer in the moonlight, creating a city of crystal, like one seen in a dream, which slowly evaporates into the night.

Dream City (Traum-Stadt, 1921) - No. 22 From Paul Klee Painted Songs

Premiered by American Modern Ensemble
June 14, 2018, Mostly Modern Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY

"Carnival in the Mountains" (Karneval im Gebirge, 1924)
Dimly lit but multi-colored figures, some appearing to be vendors, performers, animals, and costumed guests, blend together in a scene both jovial and grotesque beneath the faint blue mountains in the distance, which form a peaceful contrast to the frenzied activity of the foreground.

Carnival in the Mountains (Karvneval im Gebirge, 1924) - No. 17 from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

Premiered by American Modern Ensemble
June 14, 2018, Saratoga Springs, NY

"Rose Garden" (Rosengarten, 1920)
Twenty-seven roses are sprinkled aesthetically throughout a city of pink, orange, and white buildings, criss-crossed by streets and pathways. This use of a recurring symbolic motive keeps the eye moving throughout the community, and observe its structures from various perspectives while exploring the garden.

Rose Garden (Rosengarten, 1920) - No. 13 from Paul Klee Painted Songs

Recorded live on October 17, 2019 at Studio Z, Saint Paul, MN

Amelia Smith, clarinet
Jonathan Posthuma, composer

Mask of Fear (Maske der Furcht, 1929) - No. 21 from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded live on October 17, 2019 at Studio Z, Saint Paul, MN

Jonathan Posthuma, composer / piano

Illuminated Leaf (Belichtetes Blatt, 1929) - No. 9 from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded live on October 17, 2019 at Studio Z, Saint Paul, MN

Devan Moran, violin
Jonathan Posthuma, composer

Intoxication (Im Rausch, 1939) - No. 18 from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Recorded at Cleveland State University, January 2020

NO EXIT New Music Ensemble
https://noexitnewmusic.com/

I. Carnival in the Mountains
II. She Bellows, We Play
III. Destroyed Place
IV. High Spirits
V. Dream City

No Exit/Zeitgeist January 2020

High Spirits (Übermut, 1939)- No. 2 from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Destroyed Place (Zerstörter Ort, 1920) - No. 14b from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

She Bellows, We Play (Sie brült, wir spielen, 1928) - No. 19 from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Willingdon House Music, digital premiere
June 5, 2020

Flavia Hirte, flute
Nicola Barbagli, oboe
Max Mausen, clarinet
Ellen Bundy, violin

Fish in a Circle (Fische im Kreis, 1926) and Conclusion - No. 34a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Introduction and Bird Comedy (Vogelkomodie, 1919) - No. 35a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

Xander Benham, piano
July 13, 2020
Utrecht, The Netherlands

More information and score:
https://www.jonathanposthuma.com/store/p101/Hovering_%28No._12_from_Paul_Klee%3A_Painted_Songs%29.html

Hovering (Schwebendes, 1930)- No. 12a from Paul Klee: Painted Songs

No. 33 "Landscape with Yellow Birds" (Landschaft mit gelben Vögeln, 1923)from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

Yoshi Weinberg, flute

Landscape with Yellow Birds (Landschaft mit gelben Vögeln, 1923)- No. 33

No. 16 "In the Magic Mirror" for solo cello

Premiered and recorded live on June 7, 2018 by Tom Valdez, violoncello, at Mostly Modern Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY

In the Magic Mirror (Zauberspiegelbild, 1934) - No. 16a from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

No. 20 "Unstable Equilibrium" for violin and violoncello

Premiered and recorded live on June 7, 2018 by Bradley Bascon, violin and Tom Valdez, violoncello, at Mostly Modern Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY

Unstable Equilibrium (Schwankendes Gleichgewicht, 1932) - No. 20 from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

Collection of recorded compositions of Jonathan Posthuma, composer.

Paul Klee : Painted Songs

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