Repentance

The title of the work is the English translation of the Italian term ‘Ravvedimento’, which says little about the content and nature of the composition. ‘Ravvedimento’ is the title of a composition by Gubaidulina for cello and guitar quartet written for Ivan Monighetti in 2007, which she followed up shortly afterwards with a variation for double bass and three guitars entitled “Pentimento”. In 2008, the composer then arranged the work for cello, three guitars and double bass on commission from the San Francisco Symphony and gave this new version the title ‘Repentance’. According to Gubaidulina, the title means repentance. Repentance because the composer, who was very busy with numerous new commissions, had to put off the piece she had promised Monighetti for a long time until she was finally able to realise it.