1st, 2nd and 4th movement of "Kairos im Kronos 1756/1956"

In “Kairos im Kronos 1756/1956”, Herbert Willi creates a multilayered musical reflection on time, placing the decisive moment (kairos) within the continuous flow of chronological time (chronos). The work is framed by the symbolic relationship between the birth year of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756) and that of the composer himself (1956).

The selected movements reveal a highly refined and concentrated musical language in which fleeting gestures, eruptive impulses, and moments of fragile stillness are set in sharp contrast. Rather than following a linear narrative, the music explores time as a subjective and experiential space.

A defining feature is the interplay between structural precision and expressive freedom. Nuanced timbral shifts, rhythmic layering, and abrupt contrasts shape the musical discourse, offering a compelling reflection on origin, memory, and the present moment.