Rhapsody for Orchestra
Margaret Brouwer
About this work:
Rhapsody for Orchestra was commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in honor of Elaine Lebenbom. In the style of a concerto for orchestra, it features principal players, sections, and the entire orchestra in a soloistic way. I love the orchestra - its beauty, power and excitement. It has an unparalleled ability to produce a vast array of sounds and beautiful melodies in many different colors. My intention when writing this work was to let the orchestra shine, to show off a bit in different ways - with beautiful melodies, with bravura, with passion, with powerful sound and with electric rhythms.
This work is dedicated to my former teacher, composer Donald Erb who recently passed away. I think composing his music helped him to come to grips with the experiences that occurred in his world. By the same token, in my music I am trying to make sense of the complex world that I inhabit as a person living in the 21st century; to merge and mix and overlay the layers of my life and history, of my concerns, hopes and passions, and of my interest in other cultures as well as the love of my own culture; to see if these elements can exist in a wonderful, colorful and complex tapestry, if they can relate to each other, if they can enrich each other.
The names of the first and second movements describe quite thoroughly the essence of these movements. The last movement lets loose in a fun, fast-paced dance that rollicks through lilting melodies and dancing rhythms.
Year composed: 2009
Duration: 16:00:40
Ensemble type: Orchestra
Instrumentation: