VOCI LUMINOSE for Two Violins, Orchestra
Harold Blumenfeld
About this work:
Work for TWO VIOLINS, ORCHESTRA. Comissioned, premiered 1996 by Umea Sinfoni Orkester, Sweden, with DUO GELLAND (violinists Martin and Cecilia Gelland), Gerhard Samuel, conductor. National telecasts. Sample SCORE PAGES on site.
Former Pub. MMB Music, now closed. Published by COMPOSER: blumenf@wustl.edu
Score $25.
****REVIEWS--
Vasterbottens-Kuriren, 9 Nov 1996, with headline "American premiere with an anthem." : "The premiere of Harold Blumenfeld's 'Voci Luminose' put his audience in a most receptive mood, through its high creative qualities. When two violinists competent as Cecilia and Martin Gelland addressed the tiwsting and twining of the music's twin lines, the work blossomed like a flower. It goes on to offer effects resembling the chain reaction of falling dominos; and towards the end it pays our land special tribute in the composer's quotation of our national anthem. Then all ends suddenly in an abrupt roar." - Per-Inge Planefors........
And from Vasterbottens-Kuriren, 9 Nov 1996: "The evening centered on premiere of Harold Blumenfeld's 'Voci Luminose'...The work is short but intense, marked by strong structure and meditatively singing lines. The public was delighted with the television station's decision to have it performed twice." - Stefan Sjolund...
Composer's Note--
"When I received Swedish commission for work for two violins and orchestra, it gave me chance to step back from intensity, violence, exoticism of my Rimbaud opera Seasons In Hell [it had just been premiered in Cincinnati] and render hommage to the two Prokofiev violin concerti - works I had adored from earliest youth."...
Concerto is short but eventful. Towards end it quotes Swedish national anthem, and boisterous moment from Sousa march, ending in a joyous bang. The two violins are equal, intermingling throughout...
Recorded bite of opening, when available, will be by Gelland Duo with Umea Orchestra, Gerhard Samuel, guest conductor.
Year composed: 1996
Duration: 00:09:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Orchestra with Soloist(s)
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Eb Clarinet, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Marimba, 1 Xylophone, 1 Strings (General), ,2 Violin soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: Standard orchestra, two violin soloists.
Short, virtuosic, eventful 8-minute work.