related works
Red, white and blues : Dutch new blues pieces, for piano, volume 2
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Piano
Scoring:
pf
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
alt 11.3.25.3 7sax 4547 timp 6perc hp pf 3cb/3vc
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
alt str
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
medium 2222 4330 timp perc cel hp str
composition
Song and dance : for soprano and orchestra / Ronald Ford; text: Ottavio Rinuccini
Author(s):
Rinuccini, Ottavio
(Text writer/Librettist)
Ford, Ron
(Composer)
Description:
Program note (English): Songs and Dance uses the text 'Piangono al Pianger mio' by the renaissance librettist/poet Ottavio Rinuccini in an English translation. The textual images of weeping beasts and sighing stones formed the initial inspiration for the orchestral part. Slowly, tentatively, the orchestra moves forward, feeling its way into new territory. This very gradual development is contrasted by the active rhythmic sense, resulting in a music which is both slow and fast at the same time. At a certain point the soprano begins telling us the text that we have already been hearing in the orchestra, singing as a sort of cantus firmus from within the orchestra. - RON FORD