Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL541
Release Date: 2011-07-15
Douglas Allanbrook, piano; Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players: Robin Hansen, violin; George Thomson, viola; Jonathan Golove, cello; Jeff Wyneken, bass; Anita Breckbill, flute; Stephen Parkany, oboe; Evan Ziporyn, clarinet; Ken Whaley, bassoon; Teresa Penezic, horn; Tracy Ross, trumpet; Steve Fitzsimons, trombone; Lisa Harrington, piano; Michael Senturia, Conductor
These pieces were written during a long winter stay at Yaddo, an artist colony in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 1970. All of them are dedicated to friends: composers, painters, writers & philosophers. They are designed to be idiomatic to the sonorities of a modern grand piano and reflect the long history of sonorous music written for that instrument.
The preludes are in no way immediate portraits. Each one reflects something of the person to whom it is dedicated and is also meant as a tribute to that person. Two of them are pastorales; the painters to whom they are dedicated painted pictures from nature. Some are ironic, two are demonic, and one recalls the twinkle fingers of a virtuoso pianist. They can be played separately or consecutively as one coherent whole. The use of the word "prelude" naturally recalls the preludes of Chopin and Debussy. —Douglas Allanbrook
In Opera's Shadow is divided into five movements with no break between the fourth and fifth movement: 1) Prelude; 2) Recitative, Aria and Duo; 3) Entr'acte; 4) Recitative, Ballet, Recitative; 5) Final Scene. Each movement is modeled after the small forms which occur in 18th and 19th century opera.
The pre-recorded portions of electronic sounds play a variety of roles in the composition. Sometimes they are in the foreground as a "soloist" as in movement two and the various recitatives. However, for the most part they play a collaborative role with the entire ensemble, moving in and out of the musical texture in much the same way that the voice is treated in a Strauss opera.
—Edwin Dugger
These pieces were written during a long winter stay at Yaddo, an artist colony in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 1970. All of them are dedicated to friends: composers, painters, writers & philosophers. They are designed to be idiomatic to the sonorities of a modern grand piano and reflect the long history of sonorous music written for that instrument.
The preludes are in no way immediate portraits. Each one reflects something of the person to whom it is dedicated and is also meant as a tribute to that person. Two of them are pastorales; the painters to whom they are dedicated painted pictures from nature. Some are ironic, two are demonic, and one recalls the twinkle fingers of a virtuoso pianist. They can be played separately or consecutively as one coherent whole. The use of the word "prelude" naturally recalls the preludes of Chopin and Debussy. —Douglas Allanbrook
In Opera's Shadow is divided into five movements with no break between the fourth and fifth movement: 1) Prelude; 2) Recitative, Aria and Duo; 3) Entr'acte; 4) Recitative, Ballet, Recitative; 5) Final Scene. Each movement is modeled after the small forms which occur in 18th and 19th century opera.
The pre-recorded portions of electronic sounds play a variety of roles in the composition. Sometimes they are in the foreground as a "soloist" as in movement two and the various recitatives. However, for the most part they play a collaborative role with the entire ensemble, moving in and out of the musical texture in much the same way that the voice is treated in a Strauss opera.
—Edwin Dugger
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Douglas Allanbrook: Twelve Preludes for All Seasons - Edwin Dugger: In Opera's Shadow
| MP3/320 | $13.00 | |
| FLAC | $13.00 | |
| WAV | $13.00 | |
| CD-R | $13.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: I. Slowly and Fervently
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: II. Molto moderato
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: III. Allegro molto for virtuosi
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: IV. Tempo di habanera lento
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: V. Pastorale - Richmond Park
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: VI. Blurred and Noble, Fairly Slow
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: VII. Slow and Contemplative
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: VIII. Fast and Relentless
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: IX. Elegant, Precise and Fairly Slow
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: X. Pastorale, Very Moderate Tempo, Tender
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: XI. Fast and Brilliant
Douglas Allanbrook
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Twelve Preludes for All Seasons: XII. Fairly Slow, Like an Improvisation: Measured Time, Moderately Fast
Douglas Allanbrook
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In Opera's Shadow: I. Prelude
Edwin Dugger
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In Opera's Shadow: II. Recitative, Aria and Duo
Edwin Dugger
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In Opera's Shadow: III. Entr'acte
Edwin Dugger
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In Opera's Shadow: IV. Recitative, Ballet, Recitative - V. Final Scene
Edwin Dugger
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