Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra
William Neil
About this work:
In ancient Greece a "rhapsod" was a singer of epic poems and bits and pieces of tales strung together making a collage of entertainment. I have, in a like manner, allowed a simple line of melody, first introduced by the violin, to speak a musical tale. The violin, full of the exuberance and energy of youth, threads through the story's themes and shadow themes, weaving a mosaic of sound through each episode. Shadow themes are melodies that are acoustically derived from one another like shadows. At first these themes perform supportive roles, but as the story moves forward, they gain in dominance of pitch and dynamic. Sometimes running ahead of a passage, making aggressive commentary, and sometimes aligning with the emotional expression of the phrase, the violin shifts between a mere exercise of notes to a noble exploration of broadening lyricism. William Neil
Rhapsody, commissioned by Chicago's Katherine Abelson, proved a bright attractive work with an open sound and a long noble romantic line. Joseph Cunniff, Leader Fine Arts Critic
Year composed: 1998
Duration: 00:21:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Orchestra with Soloist(s)
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 2 Horn in F, 1 Trumpet, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Xylophone, 14 Violin,1 Violin soloist(s), 4 Viola, 3 Cello, 2 Double bass, 1 Harp