Artistic Di=ector
Play Play > Riddle


Throughout an individuals life span, one is continuously faced with riddles whether he or she realizes it or not. I believe that the most important riddle in history is the Samson’s riddle which is written in the book of Judges: "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet" (Judges 14:14). The riddle was based on a private experience of Samson, who killed a lion and after a while found bees and honey in its corpse. "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" (Judges 14:18) is the answer to the riddle.

I am the most confident that you are the blessed one if you solve Samson's riddle as “Jesus Christ”. Humans are continuously faced with riddles and this piece is one of them.

Riddle for clarinet, violin, cello and piano was commissioned by the Montreal QAT Ensemble and premiered by the ensemble in Montreal 2007. The original title of the piece was "Quartet for QAT" and the work was retitled "Riddle" in 2008.

 -Gideon Gee-Bum Kim

Gideon Gee-Bum Kim, managing/artistic directo
Copyright 2018 by Toronto Messiaen Ensemble