Socrates’ Real Apology for bass, percussion and strings after K. Varnalis

Simeon Pironkov wrote Apology of Socrates on the text of the short writing of Greek poet, novelist, publicist, and publicist (born and raised in Bulgaria) Costas Varnalis (1884 - 1974) H alithini apologia tou Sokrati ('The True Apology of Socrates'), dedicated to the ancient Greek philosopher. The composer did not assign his work to any specific genre. Scholarship designate it as chamber cantata, a chamber opera-cantata, a political speech, oratorical performance-rally ... Apology of Socrates is an expressive mono-drama. The composer apparently felt a necessity to create a dramatic work wherein the entire dramaturgy was defined and governed by the spoken word (text). The dialogue between Socrates and the citizens of Athens – his accusers, embodies the composer's exchange with his contemporaries and his social protest, articulated in Socrates' exclamation of anger: "Falsehood, ignominy and perfidy – this is the spirit of your state!“ The sonic ambiance in the opening, achieved by means of different percussion instruments (including cowbells, big drum, associated with a folk-style scene) and the recitative part of the soloist represent the two contrasting images – of the crowd of accusers, and of Socrates. The fourteen separate episodes of Socrates's conversation with the crowd feature alternately groans, anger, grotesque ... Socrates' conclusive line, “And who will take me to prison now?... Where is the prison, citizens?! Ha, ha, ha!”represents the author's personal message for hypocrisy. The accents in the utterance of the text determine the metrical and rhythmical pulse of the work. The music picture is subordinate to the word ... Apology of Socrates was heard for the first time shortly after its composition, in 1968. In the autumn of 1976, the work saw another introduction in a concert of Simeon Pironkov's own music. Performers were again Pavel Gerdzhikov and the Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble. Apology of Socrates is one of the most forceful and dramatic messages among those ever bequeathed to us by this composer.