Stanko Horvat: Notturno for strings

A prominent place within the oeuvre of Stanko Horvat is occupied by Notturno for Strings, composed in 1980. Created during a prolific period of composition – after a series of choral, piano and vocal-instrumental pieces, and written for a string ensemble (13 players) – Notturno represents a kind of refuge in the string sound, which, along with the piano, extends throughout Horvat’s entire oeuvre.

Despite a title that initially evokes the Romantic tradition of the lyrical nocturne, Horvat’s rendition is firmly situated within an Expressionist aesthetic, distinguished by sophisticated dynamic processes and a deeply introspective atmosphere. The nightly darkness also brings unrest, which then leads to calm, and the purified expression is intertwined with strong inner turmoil that ranges from silence to dramatic exclamations. The ensemble is not conceived as a homogeneous performing body; rather, emphasis is placed on the individuality of each player. This approach generates rich polyphonic activity and a dense, multilayered texture. By contrasting linearity and clusters, Horvat has created a precisely structured and expressive, poignant piece. The qualities that Horvat himself regarded as fundamental to the creative process – energy, colour, dramatic intensity, beauty, and emotional immediacy – are fully embodied in Notturno. Owing to the composer’s mastery in shaping dramatic states that move from anxiety to catharsis, as well as his exceptional understanding of the expressive and technical possibilities of the string ensemble, this piece stands as one of the finest achievements of Croatian chamber music in the second half of the 20th century. Horvat’s Notturno was premiered on December 18, 1980, at the Croatian Music Institute, as part of the Days of Croatian Music, by the Zagreb Soloists.

(Bojana Plećaš Kalebota, translated by Mia Pleša)

HDS, Cantus, 2026.
Edition numbers: Can. ‭415-3886
ISMN 979-0-801363-88-6