Symphonia Minima
John de Clef Piñeiro
About this work:
Symphonia Minima is a tribute to youthful beginnings. The joy and freshness of optimism, the vibrant energy of seemingly immortal impulses – these are the inspiration. They coalesce as notes, rhythms and timbral blendings that carry the listener forward, surfing inexorable surges and swells, as if “forever” actually existed in each passing moment.
The word “Minima” in the title refers both to the work’s brevity as well as to my selective use of Minimalist elements that I found would serve my purposes in composing a short yet substantial, single-movement, concert piece that would at once be refreshing to hear, exciting to play and fun to conduct.
The Symphonia is a high-energy, playful, kaleidoscopic, and challenging work, whose momentum can carry the listener without need for any technical awareness. Nevertheless, one way to appreciate the work's structural aesthetic is to understand that it embodies the principle (advocated by the extraordinarily influential Nadia Boulanger) of "la grande ligne" (the long line or sense of inevitability and logical progression that Boulanger believed is essential to good music), which is achieved here, not through traditional melodic development, but through the aggregation of melodic fragments and motifs that grow organically out of what has gone before.
Although Symphonia Minima is specifically dedicated to the spirit of outstanding ensembles of very talented young musicians who are in the earliest stages of their musical careers, in a broader sense, the work also honors the concert musicians of today and tomorrow, without whom the world would be a far less enjoyable place.
Year composed: 2000
Duration: 00:10:40
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 1 Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 1 Contrabassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 3 Percussion (General), 1 Marimba, 1 Piano, 18 Violin, 8 Viola, 8 Cello, 3 Double bass, 1 Harp
Instrumentation notes: Contrabassoon is optional and the number of strings may be fewer than indicated above. While the piano, harp and marimba are prominent voices, they may, but need not, be played by featured soloists.