Music for Ensemble and Orchestra
LA Phil co-commission
with generous support from Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg
At a Glance
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Composed
2018 -
Length
c. 20 minutes -
Orchestration
ensemble = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 vibraphones, 2 pianos, 2 first violins, 2 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, bass, and electric bass; orchestra = 4 trumpets, strings (no basses) -
First Los Angeles Philharmonic Performance
November 1–4, 2018
About this Piece
Music for Ensemble and Orchestra was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and Baltic Sea Philharmonic. The composer has written the following note:
Music for Ensemble and Orchestra is an extension of the Baroque concerto grosso, where there is more than one soloist. Here there are 20 soloists — all regular members of the orchestra, including the first stand strings and winds, as well as two vibraphones and two pianos. The piece is in five movements, though the tempo never changes, only the note value of the constant pulse in the pianos. Thus, an arch form: sixteenths, eighths, a Ghanaian bell pattern, eighths, and sixteenths. Music for Ensemble and Orchestra is modeled on my Runner of 2016 and is about 20 minutes in duration.
After the world premiere in Los Angeles, the piece traveled to London for its UK premiere with the London Symphony Orchestra and Kristjan Järvi on November 29, 2018, at the Barbican Theatre. The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas performed the work June 20–22, 2019.
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