Gestural Variations
Encyclopedia
Gestural Variations op. 43 is a trio composition of Graham Waterhouse
in 1997 originally for oboe
, bassoon
and piano
. Later versions are scored for clarinet
, cello
and piano (1999) and flute
, cello and piano (2009).
, framed by an introduction and a postlude. Each variation expresses a movement or gesture similar to a mime artist
or a dance
r.
(IDRS). It was first performed in 1997 by John Dee, Henry Skolnick and José Lopez at the Northwestern University
, Evanston, Illinois
. G. Salter remarked in the "Double Reed News": "The composer's purposeful use of ambiguous, shifting harmonies and overlapping unisons sets these contrasts in miniature apart from much that is being written today, conveying the uncertainties of our times."
A second version op. 43a was written in 1999 for clarinet
, cello and piano, a trio combination for which Beethoven composed his Trio
op. 11 (Gassenhauer-Trio), Johannes Brahms
his Klarinettentrio op. 114 and Alexander Zemlinsky his Trio op. 3, among others. This setting of Gestural Variations appears on a recording Portrait, a selection of the composer's chamber music on Cybele Records, played by Markus Schön as the clarinettist, Waterhouse as the cellist, and Michael Wendeberg as the pianist. A review of Hubert Culot stated: The "highly contrasted variations display a remarkable instrumental mastery, that makes this work a feast from first to last." The versions were published by Hofmeister, Leipzig, in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
Gestural Variations in a third version op. 43b for oboe, cello and piano was awarded a prize at the competition of Via Nova in Weimar
and premiered there on 31 March 2000.
The UK premiere of the clarinet version was played on 5 November 2002 in a Composer Portrait Concert with Graham Waterhouse in the St. Cyprian's Church in London
.
The original version opened the Welcome Recital 6 of the British Double Reed Society
at the IDRS conference 2009 in Birmingham
, played by Richard Simpson, Julie Price
and Janet Simpson.
A fourth version op. 43c for flute
, cello and piano was premiered at the Gasteig
Munich on 20 December 2009, played by Jens Josef
, Waterhouse, and Rudi Spring
. This version was played there again on 11 April 2010, this time with Christopher White as the pianist.
Graham Waterhouse
Graham Waterhouse is an English composer and a cellist. He is known for chamber music and for unusual scoring, such as Piccolo Quintet, Bright Angel for three bassoons and contrabassoon, Chieftain's Salute for Great Highland Bagpipe and string orchestra, and works for speaking voice and cello,...
in 1997 originally for oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Later versions are scored for clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and piano (1999) and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, cello and piano (2009).
Movements
The composition of about 14 minutes presents a theme with six character variationsVariation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
, framed by an introduction and a postlude. Each variation expresses a movement or gesture similar to a mime artist
Mime artist
A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer...
or a dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r.
- Introduction
- Theme
- Var. 1 (abrupt, jerky)
- Var. 2 (slow, graceful)
- Var. 3 (fleeting, breathless)
- Var. 4 (pensive, hesitating)
- Var. 5 (threatening, menacing)
- Var. 6 (exuberant, ebullient)
- Postlude
History
Gestural Variations op. 43 was commissioned by bassoonist Henry Skolnick and written for the annual conference 1997 of the International Double Reed SocietyInternational Double Reed Society
The International Double Reed Society is a Finksburg, Maryland-based organization that promotes the interests of double reed players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts....
(IDRS). It was first performed in 1997 by John Dee, Henry Skolnick and José Lopez at the Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. G. Salter remarked in the "Double Reed News": "The composer's purposeful use of ambiguous, shifting harmonies and overlapping unisons sets these contrasts in miniature apart from much that is being written today, conveying the uncertainties of our times."
A second version op. 43a was written in 1999 for clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, cello and piano, a trio combination for which Beethoven composed his Trio
Piano Trio No. 4 (Beethoven)
The Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1797 and published in Vienna the next year. It is one of a series of early chamber works, many involving woodwind instruments because of their popularity and novelty at the time. The trio is scored for piano, clarinet ,...
op. 11 (Gassenhauer-Trio), Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
his Klarinettentrio op. 114 and Alexander Zemlinsky his Trio op. 3, among others. This setting of Gestural Variations appears on a recording Portrait, a selection of the composer's chamber music on Cybele Records, played by Markus Schön as the clarinettist, Waterhouse as the cellist, and Michael Wendeberg as the pianist. A review of Hubert Culot stated: The "highly contrasted variations display a remarkable instrumental mastery, that makes this work a feast from first to last." The versions were published by Hofmeister, Leipzig, in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
Gestural Variations in a third version op. 43b for oboe, cello and piano was awarded a prize at the competition of Via Nova in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and premiered there on 31 March 2000.
The UK premiere of the clarinet version was played on 5 November 2002 in a Composer Portrait Concert with Graham Waterhouse in the St. Cyprian's Church in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The original version opened the Welcome Recital 6 of the British Double Reed Society
British Double Reed Society
The British Double Reed Society is a society for players of double reed instruments in the United Kingdom and around the world. It was founded in 1988 to "promote and enhance the interests of all double reed players, whether students, amateurs, professionals or teachers". Primarily, the...
at the IDRS conference 2009 in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, played by Richard Simpson, Julie Price
Julie Price (bassoonist)
Julie Price is an English bassoonist. She is bassoonist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, a chamber music recitalist and an academic teacher.-Professional career:...
and Janet Simpson.
A fourth version op. 43c for flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, cello and piano was premiered at the Gasteig
Gasteig
Gasteig is a cultural center in Munich, opened in 1985, which hosts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. The Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Volkshochschule, and the municipal library are all located in the Gasteig...
Munich on 20 December 2009, played by Jens Josef
Jens Josef
Jens Josef is a German composer of classical music, a flutist and academic.- Career :Jens Josef received flute instructions from Rita Eggenweiler and Klaus Grünow, principal flute of the Staatstheater Kassel, and took composition classes with Jörn Tegtmeyer, the director of church music of Hann...
, Waterhouse, and Rudi Spring
Rudi Spring
Rudi Spring is a German composer of classical music, pianist and academic. He is known for vocal compositions on texts by poets and his own, and for chamber music such as his three Chamber Symphonies.- Professional career :...
. This version was played there again on 11 April 2010, this time with Christopher White as the pianist.
External links
- Graham Waterhouse website
- Entries for Gestural Variations on WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...