related works
Genre:
Opera, musical theatre
Subgenre:
Opera
Scoring:
soloists 3354 4332 3Wag-tb timp perc hp str Fernorch.: 2fl ob 3cl 2fg
Rhapsodie les Chansons de Peuple Russes : pour orchestre / Israel Olman
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Time suspended : for orchestra, 1984 / Jurriaan Andriessen
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
3333 4331 timp 4-5perc hp pf str
Pastorale no. 2 : klein orkest, 1971 / Jan van Dijk
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
1010 0110 xyl pf str(vl vla vc)
composition
Abschied : symphonische Dichtung, für grosses Orchester, 1973 / Reinbert de Leeuw
Other authors:
Leeuw, Reinbert de
(Composer)
Description:
Program note (English): [Première: 11-05-1974 - Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Edo de Waart, conducting] - Abschied is a piece on which I had worked for more than three years, but it was something that I always wanted to compose. It has been written for a huge symphony orchestra with a totally conventional instrumentation, apart from the piano and saxophones, which are scored. Furthermore there is no unusual treatment of instruments or new music techniques. It is, however, a piece that runs continuously from its seams; it is a permanent sort of fury. On viewing the score, that begins on page 1 and ends on page 82, every page is black of notes. It must be played in an extraordinarily high tempo; everything is very compact. That makes it difficult for performance: it is filled with virtuosity for all. The idea behind it is a literary one; for this reason I have given the piece a literary title, referring to the German romanticism, the period of Symphonische Dichtung. That is also the subtitle of the
piece. It is full of extremes, extremity in expression and exaggerated in aggressiveness. Thus a reason for choosing a symphony orchestra in the form as I opted for, completely 19th century, late-romantic without, however, late-romantic means, except in one neglected part. It is almost everywhere homo-rhythmical, with the complete orchestra simultaneously, or two groups positioned opposite of each other. On that note, it is somewhat Stravinsky-like; it refers here and there to the Sacre, as an archetype. - REINBERT DE LEEUW