Judith Weir: Piano Concerto
Context
Judith Weir was born in 1954 in Cambridge, and at a younger age she started studying the oboe. Weir in her youth carried out frequently with the Nationwide Youth Orchestra of Nice Britain. She studied composition while in school with none apart from John Tavener. From right here she then earned her place at Cambridge College, the place she continued her composition research. After she graduated she turned closely concerned in music schooling in each the south of England after which Scotland. Throughout this era she nonetheless composed, and it was primarily operas that allowed her to make a reputation for herself throughout the classical music world.
In the course of the Nineties she turned the resident composer with the Metropolis of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and it was presently she wrote rather more orchestral-based items. She additionally experimented by combining refrain and orchestra in a lot of her works.
Throughout her lifetime up to now, Weir has been commissioned to write down for among the {most professional} orchestras and refrain’ on this planet. She has additionally labored with notable conductors and soloists. Weir has travelled to the USA to work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 1995 she obtained her CBE after which in 2007 the Queen’s Medal for Music. 2014 noticed Weir appointed as Grasp of The Queen’s Music.
Weir’s Piano Concerto was commissioned by Anthony and Mary Henfrey for his or her twenty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary and was composed for pianist William Howard. The concerto obtained its premiere with the BT Scottish Ensemble on the Spitalfields Pageant in June 1997. The concerto stays certainly one of Weir’s hottest orchestral works.
The Music
In her notes for this work, Weir talks about how William Howard served as a considerably inspiration for the concerto:
“Ever for the reason that trendy piano was born, the composition of piano concertos has been on an inflationary spiral, and it’s now a musical type related to the crashingly loud facet of music; which isn’t the type of music I usually like to write down.
However figuring out of William’s performances of such small scale concertos because the Mozart Ok.449, with as few as 5 strings within the accompanying orchestra, I used to be impressed to write down him a recent piece which equally lives within the house between chamber music and bravura-filled spectacle.”
Set into three actions, the concerto consists for piano and string orchestra.
Motion I
Opening with a flourish from the piano, the sunshine ambiance is supported by a group of the higher strings. Because the piano strikes down into its decrease vary, a style of what to return is heard by subtlety syncopated rhythms. A piano interlude leads into the driving first part of the concerto.The angular motion between the piano and the strings creates two distinct voices who playfully move round the primary fragments of themes. A lyrical central part presents a wispy and kooky theme that’s lead by the soloist. Concluding with a brief spherical up of fragmented themes, the motion ends quietly, and most significantly, unresolved.
Motion II – “The Candy Primeroses”
The house created within the second motion is about out with a name and response determine between the soloist and orchestra. Primarily based on open chords and supported by a chamber group, the sweetness of this motion comes from Weir’s use of textures and concord. The chamber facet, which Weir was impressed by Mozart’s chamber concertos, is probably probably the most outstanding on this motion. The dearth of a full tutti sound will not be detrimental in any way as Weir expands her hotter harmonic language. Because the depth fluctuates, the second motion concludes quietly.
Motion III
The finale, reverting again to the stylings of the opening motion, is initially primarily based on string sliding and fast arpeggio work from the piano. That is quickly dismantled and a frantic theme ensues. The fast tempo provides to the energetic ambiance that Weir creates. Repeated cluster chords from the soloist add to the drama of this piece, because the unusual sounds from the higher strings develop and diminish in sound. A small lyrical part breaks the stress, earlier than the motion concludes all of a sudden.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Joyful Studying!
Picture Supply
You may additionally take pleasure in… Alexander Scriabin: Piano Concerto No.1
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