w18969
| Title | The Clearing |
| Contributors |
Gareth Clemson aka CHEZZ (composer) |
| Composition date | 2010 2010 |
| Duration (mins) | 6 |
| Category | instrumental solo |
| Instrumentation | Va |
| Commissioned by | |
| Key signature | |
| First line | |
| First performed | |
| Notes | |
| Programme Note | 'The Clearing' is a wood engraving of an image of a young girl alone, surrounding by bare trees, which measures 4x2 inches, the title, price and medium, displayed on a white diagonal sash on the top right hand corner adorned with a single red sale spot. All the trees are leaning to the left, backwards, black, tormented by the wind and symbolic of despair. The girl, flimsily dressed, is kneeling, her hair streaming back in the strong wind. She is looking fixedly ahead. What can she see? Why is she there? What is she fleeing from? What event in her life has caused her to run away, barefoot and barely clothed? Her world has collapsed. The image is a strong one with a long 'aftertaste'. And, desperately sad. How does one capture a scene of such emotion? Choosing a solo instrument is akin to the wood engraving itself in that less equals more, where the visual impact is far more powerful than the original's smallness would otherwise suggest. It is up to the musical imagination of the performer to convey conviction in his playing, the notes merely the platform for bringing the scene to life, a musical visual fantasy and a prompt for the listener. The musical ideas can be categorised as follows: the opening with its unrelated notes, serves as the picture frame. The girl is represented by a 'weeping' figure and the final 'sad song' section. The wind is suggested in the extended fast section, with the bare trees featuring dissonant double stops. The work was completed in the rough late November 2010 and last around six minutes. |
This work is associated with the following collection items:
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