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:
sopr 3132 3220 timp perc (vibr ad lib.) str
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
sopr-m 2222 2000 3perc hp pf str(8.8.6.4.4.)
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
sopr 2121 2200 perc cel vibr hp str(10.8.6.4.2-3.)
composition
Song and dance : for soprano and orchestra / Ronald Ford; text: Ottavio Rinuccini
Other authors:
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