“The Unanswered Question” – A musical introduction (11 min.)

The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives lasts less than six minutes and yet is one of the landmarks of modern music as well as one of the most original American contributions to music history. In the piece, composed between 1906 and 1908, an increasingly confused and excited offstage ensemble answers the trumpet’s question motif, which is intoned seven times. The violinist Philipp Bohnen explains the composition’s unique character and appeal in conversation with other orchestra musicians.