What's the Point of Counterpoint?
Victoria Bond
About this work:
Premiere: April 20, 1985 The Egg, Albany
Empire State Youth Orch, Bond cond, Bob McGrath, narr.
Commentary:Commissioned by The Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts, this original story tells of a tune and his
travels through three musical cities in search of a friend. Guided by a little bird, he visits the cities of Rhythm, Harmony and
Counterpoint and is introduced to the characters who live there. Each element of music is illustrated by a different
personality.
Review: "Counterpoint is so complicated a subject, that to appreciate all of the mathematical permutations requires the
acumen of a well-trained composer. It's nice to have some kind of introduction to it, and the Bond piece could serve the
needs of listeners of all ages. Its construction is as a children's tale: the protagonist, a tune, is looking for a friend. Tune is
befriended by a bird, which takes him on a tour of the cities of Rhythm and Harmony before discovering the tent where the
city of Counterpoint is headquartered, and being treated to a display, rendered with a likening to acrobatics, of part of the
"Art of the Fugue". It's an impressive journey in terms of musical sophistication. Bond is to be congratulated and then some
for providing youthful audiences with a text which never attempts to talk down to them."
--Schenectady Gazette
Subito Music Corporation
Attention: David Murray
504 Bloomfield Avenue
Verona, NJ 07044
Tel: (973) 857-3440
dbm@subitomusic.com
Year composed: 1985
Duration: 00:24:10
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 1 English Horn, 2 Clarinet, 1 Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 3 Percussion (General), 22 Strings (General), 10 Violin, 5 Viola, 4 Cello, 3 Double bass, 1 Harp, 1 Narrator
Instrumentation notes: Nar, orch: 2*2*2*2 4331 timp, perc(3) hrp str