w15621
| Title | Concerto Grosso |
| Contributors |
Gareth Clemson aka CHEZZ (composer) |
| Composition date | 2004 2004 |
| Duration (mins) | 12 |
| Category | chamber orchestra |
| Instrumentation | Fl Cl Hpd Str |
| Commissioned by | |
| Key signature | |
| First line | |
| First performed | 29 12 2004 Philomusica of Edinburgh St Andrew's and St George's, Edinburgh |
| Notes | |
| Programme Note | In its earlier form, the Concerto Grosso dates from 1962. Scored for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings, there were the usual three movements - fast, slow, fast. The present work has retained the general structure of the original, the flute substitutes for the oboe, the Ritornello idea present in the outer movements remains, as does the ground bass form of the inner, slow movement. Otherwise, the present Concerto Gross bears little resemblance to its earlier forebear and should be regarded as a completely new work in its own right, rather than a tidying up of the original. Formally, it is much tauter, the three movements shortened, performance time around 12 minutes. The addition of the Harpsichord adds a neo-baroque flavour to the sonorities, which, nevertheless, are faithful to the contemporary harmonies of the present. A certain squareness to the rhythmic patterns also harks back to an earlier era, counteracted by a judicial use of punctured syncopation. Ritornelli in the outer movements undergo some development, rather than a simple repetition as usually happened in baroque times. The ground bass of the slow movement is treated much more freely than formerly. Whilst great care has been taken in the instrumentation, it will be interesting to see how balance between the two soloists and strings works out in actual performances, particularly regarding the harpsichord, which is usually limited to one dynamic level, be it loud or soft, throughout a movement. The metronomic markings should serve as a general guide to tempi, but a slavish adherence to them in a mechanical or non musical way is to be avoided. Of course, in the real world, the preceding background is clearly too long for inclusion in a normal sized concert programme. Below, is a shorter, more suitable version. Concerto Grosso for flute, clarinet, harpsichord and strings, completed in May 2004, is a complete reworking of an earlier work of 1962. It has the usual three movements - fast, slow, fast - and lasts around 12 minutes. Premiere given by Katharine Wake (flute), Cathy Hirschmann (clarinet), Leon Coates (harpsichord) and members of the Philomusica of Edinburgh directed by Lawrence Dunn at a lunchtime concert at St Andrews and St George's, Edinburgh on Wednesday 29 December 2004. CHEZZ Tillywhally December 31 2004 |
This work is associated with the following collection items:
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