Originally I considered calling this piece Short Cuts from the famous film by Robert Altman. The reason is that the work consists of a large number of tiny fragments of which some disappear into the blue whereas others keep returning – almost ad nauseam. After some reflection, however, I decided on the title ”Retrospect”, as it largely hits the character of piece which is retrospect. What happens is quite simply that I once more review musical ideas and forms that I have worked with before; partly (hopefully) from new angles.

While composing I ran into a quote by Thomas Mann which perfectly reflects my own way of working with this. In the quote talks about works that bear ”the stamp of summary, retrospect, self quotation and dissolution that characterizes the late phaze of life”. – Moreover, the piece – which was written for the Aarhus Sinfonietta – was formed as a rondo.

- Tage Nielsen