Josef Dahlberg: Diabelli-Contest 2014

The four part work begins with the ringing of an imaginary bell of peace. The “Irini Code” develops itself gradually from the toll of the bell. The added dissonance represents the fragility of peace. The fugue theme develops itself from the ascending tetrachord which is a quote from the well-known “Canon of the Fifth” by Melchoir Franck. The fugue proceeds into a toccata, in which the “Irini Code” as an ostinato, in contrast to the bitonal tetrachord and the descending whole tone scale dramatically intensifies the appeal for peace. The piece fades away with the quote from the “Canon of the Fifth” by Melchoir Franck and the “Irini Code”.