SKU: PR.414411630

ISBN 9781491114551. UPC: 680160089956. 9.5 x 13 inches.

EXCURSIONS is a one-movement work exploring two “characters.” A rhapsodic, descending passage is introduced by the cello, followed by a  static, chorale-like phrase for the violin and cello. Their individual developments are separated by a slow, contrasting middle section. The composer has written: “This is analogous to situations in life: we stand by a crossroad, choosing one option and forfeiting the other. But in art, the realm of the imagination, we can perhaps afford to pursue more than one route to its ultimate destination… or can we? It is symbolic that in this work both roads eventually lead to the same place.”.
Excursions for violin, cello and piano, is a one-movement work of tripartite structure in which materials explored in the first of three large sections are brought back in the last section.  The traditional statement-contrast-restatement form, which is readily suggested by such a description, is, however, not at all in the mold in which the work is cast.  Rather, my aim was to subject the essential materials of the piece (two “characters” –the rhapsodic, descending passage played by the cello in the very opening and, later, a static, slow moving, chorale-like phrase for the violin and cello) to two entirely different developments separated by a slow, contrasting middle section.  This is analogous to an exploration of the ramifications that two divergent choices made by the same person might lead to.  In life, as we stand by a crossroad, choosing one option usually means having to forfeit the other.  But in art, the realm of the imagination, we can perhaps afford to pursue more than one route to its ultimate destination…or can we?  It is, I believe, symbolic that in this work both roads eventually lead to the same place: in composing Excursions, it seemed absolutely inescapable that at the end the slow, contrasting middle sections – both more resigned and peaceful than the battling spirits of the outer parts – should return briefly to end the work. The piano trio combination (once highly favored, but to this composer still as challenging today) is approached here as a collaborative effort of three equal soloists – partners.  Of the available pairings, the two strings find themselves occasionally approached as a team pitted against the piano.  The cello-piano combination is also not uncommon here, and there is an extended violin cadenza toward the end of the piece.  The writing for the three instruments is closely and at times interlinked, but the players are all instructed to play from scores. Excursions was first performed at Brandeis University in 1982.

SKU: PR.11140253S

UPC: 680160631377. 9.5x13 inches. Based on a traditional African folk tale.

As a standalone performance piece, Dorff's A Treeful of Monkeys is a delightful telling of an African folk tale, complete with narration. The instrumental ensemble describes a hat seller, a good number of hats, and a good number of monkeys up in the trees with those hats. Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, however, A Treeful of Monkeys is also an opportunity to introduce musical elements to young students, with Dorff's suggested educational objectives and performance tips suitable for classroom use.

SKU: HL.49044181

ISBN 9790001197939. 9.25x12.0x0.263 inches.

Die zweite Violinsonate op. 58 entstand im November und Dezember 2009 und ist als freundliches Gegenstuck zu der duster-aufgewuhlten ersten Violinsonate op. 38 (2000) konzipiert. Die helle Grundstimmung des Werkes ist sicherlich nicht zuletzt durch seinen Enstehungsort Cervo an der ligurischen Riviera, meiner italienischen Wahlheimat, buchstablich bei Sonnenschein unter blauem Himmel entstanden, beeinflusst.Dem ganzen Werk liegt ein musikalisches Motto zugrunde, das jedoch erst im abschliessenden zehntaktigen Adagio amoroso, das aus einer versunkenen Welt zu entstammen scheint, verraten wird. Alles Material ist darauf bezogen und die ganze Sonate scheint eigentlich nur komponiert worden zu sein, um diese Schlussaussage formulieren zu konnen.Der erste Satz ist ein breit angelegtes Moderato mit zwei Themen in strenger Sonatenhauptsatzform. Sowohl thematisches Material als auch alle formalen Verbindungsglieder sind harmonisch wie melodisch aus den Intervallen der kleinen und grossen Terz und deren Komplementarintervallen, der grossen und kleinen Sext gebildet. Dieses beinahe serielle Verfahren wird allerdings von dem uberschwanglich romantischen Gestus der Musik vollkommen kaschiert.Der sehr schnelle, federleicht schwebende zweite Scherzosatz wird beherrscht vom luftigen Pizzicato der Violine und fluchtigen Klavierfiguren, nur im gesanglichen Trio erhebt sich die Violine zu einer vierphrasigen, langsam aufsteigenden Kantilene auf choralartig akkordischem Untergrund des Klaviers.Die langsame Einleitung des Finalsatzes nahert sich dem abschliessenden Motto bereits sehr deutlich ohne es ganz erklingen zu lassen. Diese Introduktion wird in die Mitte des zweithemigen, feurig dahinsturmenden Allegro anstelle einer Durchfuhrung wieder aufgenommen und in den lebhaften Gestus des Schlusssatzes umgewandelt. Mit dem Erklingen des eigentlichen Herzstuck des Werkes als Adagio amoroso schliesst das Werk, sicherlich sehr uberraschend fur Neue Musik.- Stefan Heucke.