composer

Roukens, Joey

Joey Roukens (b. 1982) is an Amsterdam-based composer of contemporary classical music. He studied classical composition at Codarts University of the Arts and psychology at Leiden University. Since graduating in ...

related works

24 capriccio's voor viool solo

Genre: Chamber music
Subgenre: Violin
Scoring: vl

Scherzo : per pianoforte ed orchestra / Rudolf Perdeck

Genre: Orchestra
Subgenre: Piano and orchestra
Scoring: 3222 3300 timp perc str pf-solo

a young woman came up to me : for piano and orchestra / Piet-Jan van Rossum

Genre: Orchestra
Subgenre: Piano and orchestra
Scoring: pf-solo 3fl 3ob 2cl cl-b fg fg-b 4h 2trp trb-t trb-b tb 3perc 2hp pf str

Process : for piano and orchestra / Svyatoslav Lunyov

Genre: Orchestra
Subgenre: Piano and orchestra
Scoring: pf-solo 3fl 2ob eh 2cl cl-b 2fg cfg 4h 3trp 3trb tb timp perc cel hp str

 

composition

In Unison : Concerto for two pianos and orchestra / Joey Roukens

Publisher's number: 16199
Genre: Orchestra
Subgenre: Piano and orchestra
Scoring: 2pf-solo picc 2fl 3ob 2cl cl-b 2fg cfg 4h 3tpt 3trb timp 3perc cel str
Remarks: Geschreven in opdracht van de NTR ZaterdagMatinee voor de gebroeders Jussen als solisten.
Duration: 28'00"
Year of composition: 2017
Status: fully digitized (real-time delivery)

Description:
Before I started composing I listened to the CDs of the Jussen brothers and was struck not only by the sparkling brilliance of their playing, but also by the fact that they sounded together so perfectly as a duo. Gradually the idea arose to write a double concerto in which the two soloists would not so much sound as two separate soloists, but as it were as one superpianist on one superpiano, which means that there are many unison passages (both pianos playing exactly the same notes). In any case, the unison is an element that appears a lot in my work, perhaps a legacy of the “Dutch music tradition”. My plan was to pursue the classic setup in three parts (fast-slow-fast). While I was working on the piece I was in a period when I played through many Italian baroque toccatas myself on the piano and something of that pianisticity can probably be heard in the pianisticity in this piece.

Perhaps most striking in part I Neon Toccata, an energetic, virtuoso toccata full of whimsical twists and rousing rhythms. It contains harmonies that are reminiscent of a certain kind of pop music that I associate with neon colors: bright, screamy, catchy. At the same time, I keep changing the harmonies in this part in a way that you will never find in pop music.

The slow second movement (What If) is set up in an A-B-A form: the A sections are slow, lyrical and mostly serene; the middle section is faster and builds to a more dissonant, violent climax. Characteristic of this movement are the continuous pulses of repeating notes: in the A sections this is a very irregular kind of pulsation, but in the middle section the pulses become more regular. When the A section returns after the climactic violence, the music has an almost sacred feel, like a dreamed kind of Early Music. The movement ends very ethereally, in the very highest register of the pianos.

Movement III (Dark Ride) is a dark mad ride at a dangerously high pace. It is a raw, chromatic and rhythmic movement that, despite the predominantly tonal harmonies, often has a sharp, dissonant edge. If you listen carefully, you can still hear something of the originally planned rondo form. It contains insanely fast notes, grotesque outbursts and just before the end a wild groovy passage in which the two pianos are left with only timpani.

Sheet Music
If you are going to perform this composition, you can enter your concert information here. We will publish this information at the Donemus Facebook page and in the Donemus Concert Agenda.
You can buy the parts or other related products on-line. If you choose a downloadable product you will receive the product in digital form. In all other cases the product is sent to you physically. Please note that you require a copy of this product for every user.
Product Description Price/piece Count
Score Download to Newzik (A3), 96 pages EUR 51.76
Download as PDF (A3), 96 pages EUR 62.11
Hardcopy, normal size (A3), 96 pages EUR 103.52
Hardcopy, study size (A4), 96 pages EUR 69.68
Solo Part Download to Newzik (B4), 126 pages EUR 53.23
Download as PDF (B4), 126 pages EUR 63.87
Hardcopy, normal size (B4), 126 pages EUR 106.46
Rental Part(s) Download to Newzik (B4), 400 pages EUR 150.50
Download as PDF (B4), 400 pages EUR 180.60
Hardcopy, normal size (B4), 400 pages EUR 301.00
Rent
You can rent this work by purchasing a rental license for one or more performances. If you buy a license you also need to buy 1 copy of the rental parts (see above). For each performance you need to obtain a rental license. More information about renting is available at the Donemus website. Please contact Donemus Publishing if you have any questions about renting before buying a license.
Number of performances
Total license costs
Live broadcast
If the work is being recorded for a live radio or TV broadcast or internet stream you can easily acquire the license for this. Any broadcast within 1 year of the recording of the work is defined as a 'live' broadcast. For every broadcast you need to obtain a license.
Audio broadcast (radio, internet)
Total license costs
Video broadcast (TV, streaming)
Total license costs
CD/DVD recordings
If you want to record this work to CD or DVD you can acquire a license here. For every title you need to obtain a license.
CD/DVD titles
Total license costs