Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra; Guy Fraser Harrison, conductor;
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Theodore Bloomfield, conductor
Concerning the structural conception of the Concertino here recorded, Edmund Haines states: "Since Dr. Harrison, who commissioned the work, asked for a piece that featured the first-desk men of the orchestra, I elected to include a group of seven soloists in a full orchestral work. It was not my wish, however, to follow a concerto grosso model; rather, I tried to achieve a different type of symphonic texture."
Even a casual acquaintance with the music reveals that Haines, indeed, did create "a different type of symphonic texture." The solo instruments are not "solo" in the sense of a sinfonia concertante, but share the thematic and developmental roles in equal measure with the orchestra. A now-chamber, now-orchestral texture alternates with astonishing speed through the entire work, resulting in an original and never-anticipated surface sheen.
Bernard Rogers' Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky was commissioned by Theodore Bloomfield and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The composer has offered the following comments:
"Mussorgsky was born in 1829. Wealthy in his youth and a member of a fashionable Guards regiment, his life was drastically changed through the ukase of Alexander II by which serfdom in Russia was abolished. His genius, perceived by few in his lifetime, now stands in music like a fixed star. He is among the great heretics. His influence upon our musical century has been profound. I have always admired Mussorgsky as an untamed, courageous and prophetic artist. He was humane and compassionate in his sympathies for the peasants, the people."
The Child's Song, written in 1869, is the subject for eight variations. It is a naive melody of folk-like character, and from it Rogers has extracted an almost endless ingenuity of intervallic harmonic development, showing all sides of his sensitive gift.
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.
Edmund Haines: Concertino/Bernard Rogers: Variations
| MP3/320 | $7.99 | |
| FLAC | $7.99 | |
| WAV | $7.99 | |
| CD-R | $7.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Concertino for Seven Solo Instruments and Orchestra: I. Molto Moderato-poco andante
Edmund Haines
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Concertino for Seven Solo Instruments and Orchestra: II. Allegro con fuoco-piu andante
Edmund Haines
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Concertino for Seven Solo Instruments and Orchestra: III. Intermezzo: Andante espressivo
Edmund Haines
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Concertino for Seven Solo Instruments and Orchestra: IV. Rondo Vivace
Edmund Haines
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Theme ‰ÛÒ Andante tranquillo
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation I ‰ÛÒ Larghetto
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation II ‰ÛÒ Presto
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation III ‰ÛÒ Allegretto mosso giocoso
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation IV ‰ÛÒ Andante con intensitÌÁ
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation V ‰ÛÒ Allegro giusto
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation VI ‰ÛÒ Capriccioso; quasi presto
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation VII ‰ÛÒ Con libertÌÊ
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Variation VIII ‰ÛÒ Allegro risoluto e ritmico
Bernard Rogers
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Variations on a Song by Mussorgsky: Coda - poco lento, solenne - giubilante sostenuto
Bernard Rogers
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