Sally Beamish - Catalogue
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Catalogue
Chamber Concerto (baroque version) (2008)
Programme Note available
Sally Beamish
Commissioned by SCO, the Norrbottens Kammarorkester and the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester for the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.
First performance:
SCO / Garry Walker, City Halls, Glasgow, 18 Jan 2008
Programme Note availableSally Beamish
Commissioned by SCO, the Norrbottens Kammarorkester and the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester for the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.
First performance:
SCO / Garry Walker, City Halls, Glasgow, 18 Jan 2008
Work Details
Category: chamber orchestra string wind
Instrumentation: S-Sax S-Sax T-Sax Bar-Sax Str
Instrumentation: S-Sax S-Sax T-Sax Bar-Sax Str
SMC Holdings
Programme Note
This work has two main sources of inspiration. One is the extraordinary artistry of the Raschér Quartet, to whom it is dedicated, and the other is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - works I ges up with, and which have always held a fascination for me. I have used the idea of 'concertante' and 'ripieno', with the saxophones featured both as an entity and as individual soloists. There are also solists within the string group.
The first movement is modelled on the first movement of Brandenburg Four, following the structure quite closely, with similar points of tension and climax, using shifts of meter and virtualosic doubling of tempo.
The second movement takes as its starting point an exact canon, with ornamentation that stem both from the Baorque, and from traditional Scottish music. The canon at times hints at the contrapuntal nature of Gaelic psalm, set against direct quotes from Brandenburg Six in te 'walking' bass line.
The last movement uses a simple pentatonic theme, which is introduced as a fugato, in the manner of many of Bach's finales. Although the semiquavers remain regular, the meter alters and destablises. Transposed sequences, in the baroque tradition, are undermined by wild, mocking saxophone interjections. The music condenses and overlaps, creating more tension. Towards the end, a repeated, rough, chordal motif is introduced, which precipitates the ending.
The Chamber Concerto was jointly commissioned by the Scottish, Stuttgard and Norbotten Chamber Orchestras, and first performed by the Raschèr Quartet and the Scottis Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker.
This work has two main sources of inspiration. One is the extraordinary artistry of the Raschér Quartet, to whom it is dedicated, and the other is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - works I ges up with, and which have always held a fascination for me. I have used the idea of 'concertante' and 'ripieno', with the saxophones featured both as an entity and as individual soloists. There are also solists within the string group.
The first movement is modelled on the first movement of Brandenburg Four, following the structure quite closely, with similar points of tension and climax, using shifts of meter and virtualosic doubling of tempo.
The second movement takes as its starting point an exact canon, with ornamentation that stem both from the Baorque, and from traditional Scottish music. The canon at times hints at the contrapuntal nature of Gaelic psalm, set against direct quotes from Brandenburg Six in te 'walking' bass line.
The last movement uses a simple pentatonic theme, which is introduced as a fugato, in the manner of many of Bach's finales. Although the semiquavers remain regular, the meter alters and destablises. Transposed sequences, in the baroque tradition, are undermined by wild, mocking saxophone interjections. The music condenses and overlaps, creating more tension. Towards the end, a repeated, rough, chordal motif is introduced, which precipitates the ending.
The Chamber Concerto was jointly commissioned by the Scottish, Stuttgard and Norbotten Chamber Orchestras, and first performed by the Raschèr Quartet and the Scottis Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker.
Notes
This "Baroque" version was initiated by The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet to suit ensembles using period instruments.
This "Baroque" version was initiated by The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet to suit ensembles using period instruments.