Guitar and Orchestra
SKU: HL.14028042
Composed by Poul Ruders.
Music Sales America.
Classical. Score.
Composed 2002. 87 pages.
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
#WH30481. Published by
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
(HL.14028042).
ISBN
9788759810668.
Rude
rs writes: There's a
solid tradition in the
history of Western music
of turning the theme of
Nicolo Paganini's 24th
Caprice for soloviolin
into a set of variations
endemic to the time and
style of each individual
composer; Liszt, Brahms,
Rachmaninov and
Lutoslawsky being the
most prominent names.
When asked by David
Starobin to write a
concerto for him, I
though well, why not have
a go at it? - bearing in
mind, that not only is
Paganini the most
celebrated violin-wizard
of all times, but he was
also a more than
accomplished guitarist.
There are 22 variations
in all, numbers 1 to 16
all adhering strictly to
the 16-bar pattern, laid
down by Paganini himself.
From variation 17 though,
the writing becomes more
symphonic and the rigid
16-bar regime is being
lossendes up a bit.
However, the last
variation 'Finale
Prestisimo' is a 6 x 16
bars white-knuckle ride,
in which the hitherto
soloistic role of the
guitar gives way to that
of 'primus interpares',
i.e. 'first among
equals'. As with another
set of variations of mine
'Concerto on Pieces'
(based on a tune by
Purcell), the nature and
shape of the
'Pagannini-Variations'
may be compared to a
stroll through a hall of
mirrors: the portrait -
the theme is gradually
being distorted out of
all recognition - but
it's still the same
original walking by.
Primus
