Serenade
Allen Brings
About this work:
My Serenade for orchestra was written to give an untroubled piece to a troubled world. Its three movements were not intended, however, to be either soporific or sophomoric.
The music of my Serenade sings rather than dances for the most part and fluctuates almost imperceptibly between a gentle, graceful diatonicism and a mild but spicier chromaticism. It makes no secret of the fact that the principal theme of the last movement is a quicker version of the principal theme of the first.
With the exception of the percussion part the orchestra chosen for the serenade is identical to that used by Mozart and Mendelssohn. Of spiritual ancestors there are many, and they would include, without apology, works by such apparently divergent composers as Strauss and Dvorak.
Score and parts available from Mira Music Associates. Contact: miramusic@aol.com
Recorded on Capstone Records CPS-8779
Allen Brings’ wistful, tightly unified Serenade was, in the composer’s words “written to give an untroubled piece to a troubled world.” This it does, admirably; it’s a serene, swaying piece with the feel of a real serenade, though not at all sentimental.
Sullivan, American Record Guide, vol. 70, no. 6 November/December 2007
Version: for Orchestra
Year composed: 1991
Duration: 00:09:01
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 2 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 22 Strings (General)
Instrumentation notes: Number of strings approximate