Constellations
YEAR: 2010
ORCHESTRATION: Flute dbl. Piccolo and Alto Flute, Clarinet dbl. Bass Clarinet, Percussion, Harp, Piano, Violin, Cello
DURATION: 12'
COMMISSIONED BY: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
PREMIERE DATE: April 18, 2010
PREMIERE INFORMATION:
Birmingham CBSO Centre (2 Family Concerts), Saturday 24 April 2010 – Barbican Centre, London (2 Family Concerts) and Friday 30 April 2010 – Birmingham (2 Schools Concerts)
WORK NOTES:
“Constellations exuded a bewitching timbral and textural finesse in its evocation of Orion and Pegasus – and with the Milky Way variously intervening as a ritornello.”
Richard Whitehouse, CLASSICALSOURCE.COM, 21st August 2013
A Ritornello (The MILKY WAY) is punctuated by three soloistic constellations that move freely like mobiles:
ORION – Jewel of the Night Sky
The PLOUGH – Tilling the Field
PEGASUS – Dancing Horse