Contre Qui, Rose is the second movement from my choral cycle Les Chansons des Roses on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. The conductor of this wind ensemble version should read the poem to the players and have them listen to the choral version (an outstanding performance by Stephen Layton conducting Polyphony on the Hyperion recording “Lauridsen – Noctures” is especially recommended) followed by a discussion of the poem and the life and significance of the poet himself. Contre Qui, Rose poses a series of questions, reflected in the musical setting by a series of unresolved cadences.