Audio Sample
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Performance by Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle from the CD sky is melting |
CD
The sky is melting / Glen Riddle and Marianne Rothschild.
Library shelf no. CD 2587 [Not for loan]
Score & Part
Bundanon sonata for violin and piano / Linda Kouvaras.
Library shelf no. 787.2183/KOU 1 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
Bundanon Sonata for Violin and Piano was written to a private commission from violinist Marianne Rothschild and pianist Glenn Riddle in December, 2010-January, 2011, during my fourth artist-in-residence stay at Bundanon, the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd estate bequeathed to the nation, situated on the Shoalhaven River in NSW.
The work is a multi-faceted response to experiencing the unique setting of Bundanon. The first movement "Pulpit Rock" reflects on the iconic rock formation way up high on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Shoalhaven River, situated right on its banks. The rock is the subject of many paintings by Arthur - and, since, by other artists. Thinking of the incongruity of the notion of a preacher standing at this 'pulpit', and the congregation necessarily housed in the river!, I was reminded of Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony, where he quotes one of his Wunderhorn songs "St Anthony Preaching to the Fishes" (which he was forced to do because he could not find a human congregation). I include a couple of quotations to make reference to Mahler's subtext: one is from the song and another is from the hymn, "A Safe Stronghold Our God is Still".
The second movement of the Sonata "The River Changes" came about from seeing the Shoalhaven River after a ten-year gap between visits to the Bundanon estate. "Ballad of the Singleman's Hut", the third movement, is a(n admittedly anachronistic) jazz waltz that was catalysed by imagining the inner life of the man who would have resided in this tiny, 1870s hut in the middle of one of the paddocks at Bundanon. "Earth Art Could Fall from the Skies", the final movement, comments on the plethora of contemporary site-specific artworks around the vast property, not only on the ground but also up in the trees.
Work Details
Year: 2011
Instrumentation: Violin, piano.
Duration: 29 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — a range of technical challenges (but not extended techniques)
Contents note: I. Pulpit Rock [10:00]-- II. The River Changes [6:00]-- III: Ballad of the Singleman's Hut [4:00]-- IV. Earth Art Could Fall from the Skies [8:30].
Dedication note: Dedicated to Glenn Riddle, Marianne Rothschild. Dedicated to Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle
Commission note: Commissioned by Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle.. Commissioned by Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle.
First performance: by Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle — 5 Jun 11. Wyselaskie Auditorium of Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry, University of Melbourne
The composer has noted the following styles, genres, influences, etc. on this work:
Postmodern, neo-Impressionist, neo-Romantic, neo-Gothic, jazz waltz.
An outcome of the composer's 4th Artist-in-Residence Award (Dec, 2010) at Bundanon Trust.
Subjects
- Influenced by: Neo-Romanticism
- Influenced by: Jazz
- Influenced by: Post-modernism
- Has as subject/About: Bundanon
- In the form/style of: Sonatas
Performances of this work
5 Jun 11: Wyselaskie Auditorium of Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry, University of Melbourne. Featuring Marianne Rothschild, Glenn Riddle.
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