related works
Concerto : for violin and two orchestras / Edward Top
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Violin and orchestra
Scoring:
vl-solo 2picc(fl) 2ob cl(cl-b) fg(cfg) 2trp 2trb tb-b perc hp pf(synth) str
Concertino : per orchestra da camera / Will Eisma
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
2222 2200 timp perc pf str
Ouverture : pour orchestre / Étienne Nicolas Méhul
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
2fl 2ob 2cl 2fg 4h 2trp trb timp str
Suite : voor amateurorkest / Marius Monnikendam
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
2121 1100 timp perc pf4h str
composition
Symphony : Golden dragon, for orchestra, 2001 / Edward Top
Author(s):
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