Diabelli Recomposed
German Edition – October 18th 2023
Frankfurt Book Fair:
Diabelli Recomposed
An international female composer project
Presentation with the music editor Antonia Krödel Antonia Krödel
Wednesday October 18, 2023, 11 a.m.
Frankfurt Book Fair Hall 3.1, Stand D 99
Diabelli Recomposed
An international female composer project edited by Claudia Bigos at Furore Verlag presented by music editor Antonia Krödel and Sabine Kemna, Furore Verlag
200 years ago, Anton Diabelli asked 50 composers to write a variation on a waltz theme he had written – not a single female composer was among the composers. Exactly 200 years later, on November 5th, 2023, an extraordinary musical event will take place at the Braunschweig State Theater: the 50-fold premiere of waltz variations for solo piano on the same waltz theme by Diabelli. This time the variations come exclusively from 50 composers from 22 different countries.
The project was initiated by the musicologist Claudia Bigos from Braunschweig. The sheet music edition is published by Furore Verlag.
Polish Edition – February 4th 2025
Diabelli Recomposed is played a second time in Poland, in Bytom.
17 female pianists interpret Diabelli recomposed.
Concert on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Fryderyk Chopin General Primary and Secondary Music School in Bytom: Diabelli Composed Project.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Fryderyk Chopin General Music School of the 1st and 2nd degree in Bytom, a concert will be held on February 4, 2025, which will remain in the memories of the participants for a long time. 50 short variations composed by women from 23 different countries will be presented in the school’s concert hall.
The project that became the basis for this event was realized by a graduate of the school, Claudia Bigos, a piano teacher in Braunschweig (Germany). The aforementioned 50 variations are part of a broad musical project that combines contemporary works of female composers with the musical tradition from two centuries ago.
In 1819, the Viennese publisher and composer Anton Diabelli approached a dozen or so leading composers of the era, including Beethoven, Czerny, Hummel, and Schubert, with a proposal to write one variation each on his Waltz in C major for a planned collective edition for piano. Beethoven was initially reluctant to accept the project, then, as usual, he delayed fulfilling his promise, but after a long time he offered Diabelli a gift as unexpected as it was magnificent: a grand cycle of 33 variations. The delighted designer published Beethoven’s work separately, of course, in 1823, as 33 Veränderungen über einen Walzer von Anton Diabelli, Op. 120.
During the concert on February 4th in the concert hall of the General Music School in Bytom, a competing project will be performed. 200 years later, in 2019, Claudia Bigos approached 50 female composers from around the world with the proposal to compose variations on Anton Diabelli’s Waltz.
The result of this project is a fascinating collection of 50 pieces in various styles and with varying degrees of difficulty, which are a testimony to the richness and diversity of contemporary women’s music. In Bytom, during a concert, all these pieces will be presented by students and teachers of the F. Chopin General Secondary School of Music.
This event is not only a musical experience, but also an expression of support for equality in music and the promotion of women’s creativity on concert stages. The organizers invite all those who believe in the value of women’s creativity and want to support the presence of music composed by women in concert repertoires.
During the concert, Claudia Bigos herself confirmed her presence and shared her experiences related to the implementation of this extraordinary project. This event will certainly be a unique artistic experience that will remain in the memory of Bytom residents and music lovers for a long time.
source: https://www.gov.pl/web/osmbytom/04022025-koncert—projekt-diebelli-recomposed