Peter Dickinson : Translations



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

commissioned by David Munrow, Oliver Brookes & Christopher Hogwood
Publisher Novello & Co Ltd
Category Works for 2-6 Players
Year Composed 1971
Duration 15 Minutes
Orchestration rec.vadg.hpd
Availability Hire  Explain this...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Programme Note
This work, in a single movement, was commissioned by David Munrow, Oliver Brookes and Christopher Hogwood for first performance at a concert at the Purcell Room on 20th February 1971. Its starting point was a series of chords playable on the treble recorder with an extra one played on a stopped descant. The expressive range of the instrument is thus extended and modern techniques of sul pont, col legno and others are applied to the gamba. I collaborated with the players in investigating these possibilities and found this most rewarding.

Like Transformations, an orchestral work heard at last year's Cheltenham Festival, Translations is in five main sections. The first and last sections are slow and employ the least familiar aspects of recorder and gamba, a kind of frame for the whole work. The second section is an Aria for recorder and gamba, (a simple tune like a Satie Gymnop?die) which is in conflict with a gamba cadenza and gradually gives way to cadenzas all round. An isorhythmic dirge forms the centre of the work but it breaks off for a kind of jazz fugue which gradually turns into the Aria in simple form, although interrupted by the harpsichord. Recorder and gamba play in a quiet coda which recalls the distorted sounds of the opening.

? Peter Dickinson 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Performance Practice of David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London : Medieval Music in the 1960s and 1970s

  Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy/Blogger Ref  http://www.youtube.Searle8 Edward George Breen Music This thesis focuses on the musical contribution of David Munrow and his Early Music Consort of London (EMC) to the so-called early music revival of the 1960s and 1970s. By exploring the notion of shared cultural space in performances of medieval music by leading ensembles of the time, this thesis seeks to isolate aspects of performance practice unique to the EMC. An assessment of literary sources documenting the early music revival reveals clear nodes of discussion around Munrow’s methods of presenting early music in concert performance which are frequently classified as ‘showmanship’ with a focus on more scholarly performance practice decisions only evident in the post-Munrow period. Close readings of these sources are undertaken which are, in turn, weighed against Munrow’s early biography to map out the web of influences contributing t
Read more

Contemporaries of David Munrow Remember

Here, I thought it would be interesting to give out some of the testimonies of people who knew David Munrow well, and not so well. This collection will over a short period of time be expanded. But here comes the first testimony from Michael Laird who did alot of work for the Consort.... 1. Michael Laird.       I first met David Munrow in 1969. I was performing a  Bach B Minor Mass (Ithink) in Wolverhampton in 1969. A cheerful,energetic young man sitting  next to me on the bassoon introduced himself as David Munrow and asked immediately "do you play the cornetto?'' "What's that" I queried "Oh" David said "it's a wonderful instrument made of wood with holes and a trumpet type mouthpiece. You can buy one from Christopher Monk. I'll give you his number. They're not expensive. You'll be good at it. If you can learn it quite quickly I can offer you some recording sessions". So that was how we got to know each other
Read more

Overview of the Munrow Archive

Image
Skip to Content List of Access Keys Search the website | Search the catalogue Cookie policy |   Search the archives Search our website Search our website Search our records Skip to content Home page A to Z index Search Visit us Help Complaints procedure Terms of use Contact us Access key details About us Education Records Information management Archives sector You are here: Home > Search the archives > Access to Archives > Records Access to Archives Part of the UK archives network   Royal Academy of Music Library   Papers of David Munrow Papers of David Munrow The entire contents of this catalogue are shown below. Browse the hierarchical structure instead Reference DM Covering dates 1908-1976 Held by Royal Academy of Music Library Extent 7
Read more