Lyric Pieces
composer: Alexander Goehr
for wind instruments with double bass, op. 35
Premiere: November 15, 1974 London (UK) · Conductor: Gary Bertini · London Sinfonietta
Orchestra instrumentation: 1.1.1.1-1.1.1.0-db
Publisher: Schott Music Ltd., London
Duration: 19' 0''
Year of composition: 1974
Edition: performance material
Material on hire
Description
These six virtuoso compositions were written in 1974 for the London Sinfonietta and commissioned by the Gulbenkian Foundation. They are scored for flute, oboe (and cor anglais), clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet and trombone with double bass: the combination of Varèse’s ‘Octandre’.
The slightly ironic title, however, expresses something about the musical structure of the pieces, which in some respects reflects 19th century practice. Each is based on a brief idea which is fairly conventionally extended into symmetric bar structures. Expression results from the tension between these ‘tonal’ forms and the serially-derived structures.
Each piece is a self-contained composition, and each features one or more instruments as soloist. The first and final pieces are the most extended. In the first, the flute predominates together with the double bass in harmonics. The second, most sustained piece, has the solo horn, whilst the third is a slightly sleezy scherzo, low in pitch. The fourth piece is a trumpet solo - later taken up by double bass, and the fifth is heavily syncopated with an oboe and clarinet. The finale is a set of variations in the form of a Rondo with cadenzas for flute and oboe and clarinet.
The Lyric Pieces were first performed by the London Sinfonietta conducted by Gary Bertini in London on 15 November 1974.
Alexander Goehr
Content
I Con forza
II Sostenuto, ma non troppo lento
III Vivo, ma pesante
IV ♪ =52
V Largamente, ma non troppo lento
VI Scherzando
Sound Clips
Goehr · Lyric Pieces, op. 35 for wind instruments and double bass, I Con forza · sound clip
Recordings
Alexander Goehr - Behold the Sun (2003)
Alexander Goehr- ... a musical offering (J. S. B. 1985)...
- Metamorphosis/Dance - for orchestra
- Behold the Sun
- Lyric Pieces
- Romanza - for cello and orchestra
- Sinfonia
NMC
D095
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