Martin Dalby

Programme Note

Estampies (1968) Martin Dalby

Dedication: to Elis Pehkonen
(note: Elis introduced me to the Estampie during our student days at the Royal College of Music. He introduced me to early music in general as he was discovering it for himself. He introduced me to a lotmore besides Ñ his natural inquisitiveness Ñ Janacek, Bob Simpson and so on.)

Scoring: 2(Picc)2(Cor Anglais)22, 4231, 1Perc, Timp(4 drums), Strings.

Two movements: 1. Moderato 2. Theme and 5 Variations.

Completed: London 09/03/68

Other performances: Carnegie Dunfermline Festival Orchestra, conducted by Kenneth Montgomery, Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, 21 April 1968.

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martin Dalby, recorded in studio 1, Broadcasting House, Glasgow, broadcast on BBC Radio Scottish Home Service, 20 April 1969. (Tape no. TGW 16 SU 574)

First programme note:

The Estampie was a medieval stamping dance, probably one of the earliest known forms of European instrumental music. It often consisted of a melodic line played in unison, or occasionally in two parts by a group of instruments with an accompaniement on drums. Naturally, such a piece, conceived for dancing, has little in common with a large two-movement work scored for thje modern symphony orchestra but I have retained the title since the model engendered many basic ideas found in the work.

When the Carnegie Dunfermline Trustees commissioned the composer to write a work for the 1968 Carnegie Festival of Music and the Arts he was attracted particularly by the effects of rhyme in music to be found in the Estampie. This feature of the same melodic ending serving all the musical sections finds its way into the first movement in which there are two basic contrasting moods: one stamping and masculine; the other suspended, impressionistic and feminine, each with its own "cadence" to which the music continually returns. This procedure renders the music harmonically, if not rhythmicelly, static and for this reason Dalby hesitates to compare the structure of the movement with the unifying features of sonata form. Despite this there is the initial contrast; the two moods do mergein an impetuous development section and at the climax there appears a recapitulation where the two moods reappear individually but in a more subdued manner.

The second movement is a set of five very free variations based on a reminiscence of an Estampie called Danse Royale. Echoes of this melody are to be found in the first movement but they are eroded to obscurity, as they are to a degree in these variations, by the freedom of imagination. In fact each variation builds on the ideas found in its predecessor and they are occasionally interrupted by a re-appraisal of the Danse Royale.

MD

Second programme note:

The Estampie was a medieval stamping dance probably French in origin. It is thought to have been the first couple dance in history. Martin Dalby says of his work: "My Estampies is set in two large movements, the form and material of which are based on various aspects of one particular estampie Ñ Danse Royale. The second movement is the simpler of the two being a set of five variations on the dance. The model is never in fact heard though the wind and percussion occasionally hint at various features of its rhythms.

The first movement is the larger of the two and its material is formed from musical features in the dance. One aspect of the medieval estampie is the returning to the same music at the end of each line, rather akin to rhyming in poetry. The same device is used in my work. There is a problem in doing this: the music returning continually to the same point becomes static and fails to progress. To offset this I have created two moods each with its own "rhyme." One is wild, stamping, while its calm counterpart is impressionistic and completely suspended from motion. The two moods develop together, combine and the "rhymes" coincide. Then the elements seperate."

Estampies was commissioned by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and performed for the first time at the Carnegie Festival of Music and the Arts in Dunfermline in April 1968.

Danse Royale: an arrangement of this dance was used as a preface to the main work at the first two performances. It lasts about 1 minute 30 and is scored for drum, violin, flute and bassoon (or cello). The whereabouts of the score and parts is not known. It is likely that the arrangement was prepared by the dedicatee of Estampies, Elis Perhkonen

Note: the composer disregards this work now and has done for many years. Nonethless it may be worth studying it once more with a view to reviving it. Perhaps the first movement would benefit by being substantially cut.

BBC SSO performance: at some stage some "helpful" flute player suggested that the low flute trills in the first movement were extremely difficult and offered fingerings to expedite matters. These were na•vely put in the score by the composer. They gave great consterrnation to John Wiggins, the principal flute in the SSO at the time who of course in o way required such aids.

Publisher: none. Score and parts on hire from Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, Abbey Park House, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA. Tel: 01383 720108.

Other enquiries to: composer* or the Scottish Music Information Centre .

*Martin Dalby
23 Muirpark Way
Drymen,
G63 ODX.

Tel: 01360 660427
Fax: 01360 660397

 Scottish Music Information Centre,
1 Bowmont Gardens,
Glasgow, G12 9LR.

Tel: 0141 334 6393
Fax: 0141 337 1161