Melding Religious Metaphors into an Instrumental Musical Drama: Gubaidulina’s Dialogue: I and You

Abstract

Dialogue: I and You provides a different interpretation in music design, providing a programmatic and expressive meaning in Gubaidulina’s music. The dialogue manners and characters’ psychological feelings operate at a theatrical level. The storyline by Gubaidulina demonstrates a distinct space created between the soloist/main “character” and God, drawing on the relationship between them. However, another deeper layer of interpretation reveals “I” can also be interpreted as Gubaidulina her own self and “You” as God. She has created the boundary between the religious world and the mundane.
The composition is a work rich in religious metaphor and message. Not only is there more than one message that can be heard in her every idea and presentation, but also various musical approaches and religious ideas are used differently from her other compositions. Musical symbolism is used to represent the religious elements in the storyline. This study examines where Gubaidulina locates musical elements and ideas, and how the musical material is used to represent God. The employment of silence, the number Three, and certain musical gestures that have significant meanings in the music are presented. The design in the music shows Gubaidulina’s creative and imaginative mind that gives uniqueness to her music.