related works
Sonate : voor piano, 1997 / Edward Top
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Piano
Scoring:
pf
Tema con variazioni : voor orkest, opus 27 / Louis Toebosch
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
2222 4200 timp perc pf str
White Interment (Symphony Nº 3) : for symphony orchestra / Victoria Poleva
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
4fl 2ob 2cl 2fg 4h 2tpt 3trb tb campanelli timp hp pf str
Figurations : voor orkest, 2000 / Kees Olthuis
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
3333 4331 timp 2perc hp str
composition
Symphony : Golden dragon, for orchestra, 2001 / Edward Top
Other authors:
Top, Edward
(Composer)
Description:
Program note (English): There are three main elements onto which this piece is constructed. 1) Sound: this is often created by successions of clusters; I shall call them cluster-chorales, hissing sounds (strings), chromatic walls, and/or modal sound fields. - 2) Motives: there are a number of motives of different character forming the basis of the composition, either tonal-melodic or harmonic and chromatic. - 3) Traditional gestures: a lot of gestures in the piece originate from traditional symphonic music. The final chorale towards the end of the work is some sort of blown up Tchaikowski. The three elements join each other in a fourth element: Layers. On many occasions there are different elements sounding simultaneously and in different instrumental groupings. An important feature in the Symphonys orchestration is the particular octave doubling, or being 'on the verge of octavation'. Idea is to create extra tension by not resolving dirty octaves, i.e. major sevenths and minor ninths. One could say
the orchestration has become part of compositional ideas, even with finding pitches. After its original setting including Wagner tubas and contrabass trombone, the symphony was revised in 2001 and the orchestration was reduced. - EDWARD TOP