Tarocchi

Liza LIM
Born 1966, Perth, Australia

Tarocchi (1988)

clarinet, guitar I, guitar II, guitar III, percussion, double bass
Commissioned by ELISION Ensemble with the assistance of the Australia Council
(Withdrawn by composer)

I first became interested in the tarot when I saw pictures of Niki de Saint Phalle's Tarot Garden. The images of the tarot seem to me and immensely rich source of archetypal symbols and emblems which find resonances throughout history in myths, ledgends and magic. They entice with their elusive meanings  . . .  intimations  . . .  tugging at half buried memories  . . . 

Tarocchi is divided into seven sections each named after a character of the tarot:

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Juggler	High Priestess	Lovers	Star	Death	Moon	The Fool

Sections are interrelated forming a complex arch shape with Star as a pivot around which the rest of the work revolves. The work maintains its unity through a criss-crossing of pitch, harmonic, rhythmic, timbral and gestural identities.

Tarocchi was commissioned by ELISION Ensemble with financial assistance from the Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council and is dedicated to Daryl BUCKLEY.

Programme note © 1988 Liza LIM