w18982
| Title | Orchestral Odyssey, An |
| Contributors |
Gareth Clemson aka CHEZZ (composer) |
| Composition date | 1973 1973 |
| Duration (mins) | 0 |
| Category | |
| Instrumentation | 2222 / 421+10 Perc Str |
| Commissioned by | |
| Key signature | |
| First line | |
| First performed | |
| Notes | |
| Programme Note | An Orchestral Odyssey, completed in November 1973, was composed for the Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra. It gains its name from Odysseus' ten year journey home after the Trojan war and thus aptly celebrates the orchestra's ten year musical journey, having been formed in 1962. As no public performance ensued, the work was recomposed in 1978 for Flute, Clarinet, French Horn and string sextet, being given the name Chameleon, the title referring to a similar piece appearing in a different guise. It was in this form that it was given its first performance by the Chameleon Ensemble on 11 August 1986 at St. Mark's Unitarian Church, Edinburgh, as part of that year's Edinburgh Fringe. After all these years, it seemed worthwhile to look again at the original Odyssey, to preserve it in a more permanent form. Maturity and the lapse of time lend objectivity to the critical eye as one 'fine tunes' this piece, coming as it does at a transitional time leading to the composer's later style. Even so, the work retains its original form, the small changes deemed necessary being mainly adding parts to improve the orchestral balance or timbre. Formally, Odyssey is very free, each episode appearing as part of a musical journey, the aleatoric episode being typical of some experimentation being explored by the composer at the time. Performance time is around 10 minutes. |
This work is associated with the following collection items:
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