Output details

Virtuosic Instruments for large ensemble. Boosey and Hawkes

This is the sixth in a series of works exploiting the distinctive natures of instruments as a means of generating musical material. In this piece, for example, I investigate the means by which specifically idiomatic instrumental gestures can dominate the harmonic ideas. The term virtuosic requires unpicking: this work is not any more ‘difficult’ or ‘showy’ than others in this series, all of which are predominantly fast in tempo and to some extent demonstrate perceivable technical demands on the performers. These gestures are largely and consciously traditional ones. The string writing features many multiple-stop chords arranged around open strings; the wind parts employ a large number of often wide but idiomatic tremolos. Despite wishing to create a rich range of colour in the instrumentation, paradoxically, perhaps, I purposely limited the palette of instrumental techniques being employed, confining myself largely to the gestures. The symmetrical nature of much of the harmony is realised through the quintal open strings as much as the wind tremolos generate the stacked thirds chords. The notion of confining instruments to certain idiomatic figures is also found in the brass writing, particularly in the use of natural harmonics in the horn part, which essentially ‘detune’ the ensemble and this is an increasing feature towards the end of the work. Various natural harmonics are employed in other instruments (winds, strings) that inevitably detune slightly, this is exploited more explicitly with actual tuning down of certain open strings (approximately a quarter tone) towards the end of the piece. At this point the otherwise disparate textures of most of the music coalesce to create a bell-like hybrid instrument that closes the work.

Commissioned by Ensemble 10/10. Première: Cornerstone, Liverpool, November 14, 2012. Conductor: Clark Rundell