“To be human” program note
Composer and pianist Elena Kats-Chernin was born in Uzbekistan in 1957, and spent several years studying at Gnessin Musical College before immigrating to Australia with her family in 1975, at the age of 17. She studied at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music and then in Hanover, Germany, remaining in the country for 13 years before returning to Australia in 1994. Kats-Chernin has composed prolifically across many genres, including but not limited to film, theatre, ballet, orchestra and chamber music.
Blue Silence was originally written for violoncello and piano, and was premiered in 2006. Since then, Kats-Chernin has arranged it for many ensemble configurations. It was commissioned by Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and was written as part of the Triptych for silence, for an exhibition devoted to schizophrenia sufferers, entitled For Matthew and Others. This was of personal significance to Kats-Chernin, as her son, Alex Chernin, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1998, and a selection of 20 of his artworks were included in the exhibition. The title Blue Silence came from Elena’s yearning to provide some respite and peace to her son, Alex, from the hostile voices he experienced as part of his condition. Regarding the word ‘blue’ Elena states:
I felt it needed some colour, and I thought if I give silence a colour it takes away that sort of heaviness of the word. And I felt of all colours, the colour blue is the most light and kind of the sky, the colour of the sky, colour of the healing—plus, it’s actually his favourite colour, Alex’s favourite colour.
The piece is quite simple, understated and minimalist in style, and is based a progression of four chords. It evokes stillness and calm, with an underlying poignancy and yearning.
Elena Kats-Chernin with her son Alex, photo credit Bridget Elliot
For Natalie Kestecher’s interview with Elena Kats-Chernin on this piece, please visit ABC Radio National.