Concertino for two cellos & string orchestra
Concertino for two cellos and string orchestra opens with a type of brief fanfare in the solo cellos before the main theme is introduced in the strings. This lively, syncopated theme is developed and moves between the soloists and the ensemble before arriving at a calmer middle section. The initial rhythm of the motive here recalls the brief opening fanfare. This middle section closes with cadenza-like interplay between the soloists that brings a return to the opening material. The repetition of the opening is expanded to include another cadenza-like passage, before the movement ends with a rousing coda.
Mexico City, 3 March 2019
The second movement presents a slow, lyrical Interlude, the melody of which is related in part to the first movement’s middle section. This Interlude acts as both a substitute slow movement and as an introduction to the animated and energetic music that follows. This is dance music that grows progressively faster, from Allegro to Vivo, to più Vivo and beyond, until it flies to a sparkling conclusion.
Concertino was composed as a result of winning the Iowa Composers Forum 2006 Linn-Mar Double Concerto Commission Competition. The work was premiered by the Linn-Mar Chamber Orchestra (Iowa), Joshua Reznicow, conducting, with soloists Carey Bostian and his student Sarah Malerich.
In 2017, following a slight revision of the work, it was recorded in Sofia, Bulgaria – this recording appears on my 2020 CD, by moonlight. This version was premiered 28 February 2019 in Mexico City by the Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes, José Luis Castillo, artistic conductor, with soloists Luz del Carmen Águila and Adriana Carrasco. It was performed again by this group and the same soloists
on 3 March 2019 at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música. I was pleased to be able to attend both of these performances, and especially enjoyed that the final measures of the first
movement were presented as an encore at this second venue.
Beck with the two cello soloists
As it was presented in Mexico City, this composition provides an excellent programming companion to Vivaldi’s Concerto in G Minor for Two Cellos, RV 531.
This piece may be purchased or is available on a rental basis from:
The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music
The Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-1116
tel (215) 686-5313
fleisher@freelibrary.org
- Instrumentation:
- two cello solos; strg orch
- Date completed:
- 2006
- Duration:
- ca. 10:00
- Audio:
Concertino (I)
Concertino (II)
- Publisher:
- Fleisher Collection (rental agent) [search catalog for "Jeremy Beck"]
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