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Conlon Nancarrow

Three movements for chamber orchestra

 

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Detail of the second movement, directly transcribed from a roll with handwritten Nancarro'ws instrumentation. Ca. 1992.
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The "Three movements for chamber orchestra" are transcriptions of player piano rolls  (not punching scores) I found in Nancarrow's studio. Due to health problems, Nancarrow was unable to write new pieces for the already paid Parnassus commission. After some talks with Yoko and Conlon, we decided to choose a pool of rolls from many different unfinished and finished rolls I found in Nancarrow's studio. (Unfinished means there were not an obvious musical ending in a roll, the work was clearly interrupted. The third movement is for sure one of this).  After several sessions and discussions, Conlon decided which rolls in the pool should be used.  Thereafter I started the transcriptions. None of these rolls had a clear identification. 

Parnassus first objection about this work was that the commission was thought for a new piece and not for recycled material. In the other hand, the score I deliver presented serious problems, up to the point it was musically not viable. I remember I booked a private company to make the final score from my manuscript and I still regret I never made a detailed proof-reading of the score I finally sent to N.Y.  Still, most  likely much of these errors  may be mine. I think the task was too much for me at the time.  Conlon made the orchestration for the first two movements and I didthe third one,  since the second movement have handwritten Conlon's instrumentations  (see image above). 

First movement. I don't remember a Tabla for this movement. Maybe Conlon did it.
   
Second movement.  Conlon's Orchestration. See image above. First page is missing in my original.
   
Third movement. This original does not have instrumentation remarks made by Conlon, so I suppose I decided about the instruments. I have in my original: Flute , Oboe,  Clarinet, Trumpet, French Horn, Piano, Marimba, Xylophone and  String quintet.  (It coincides with this recording). I think this is the most problematic movement both in orchestration and composition. Difficult task I had!
Performances, so far...

 
11.03.2007  Alarm Will Sound - Alan Pierson, University of California, Hertz Hall - Berkeley, CA - United States of America
 
16.02.2007 Alarm Will Sound - Alan Pierson, Miller Theatre - New York, NY - United States of America
 
27.05.2005 Northern Sinfonia - Thomas Adès, Sands Centre - Carlisle - United Kingdom
 
26.05.2005 Northern Sinfonia - Thomas Adès, The Sage - Gateshead - United Kingdom
 
19.02.2005 Alarm Will Sound - Alan Pierson, Miller Theatre - New York, NY - United States of America
 
15.11.2004  Musik der Zeit, Ensemble Modern - Kasper de Roo, Alte Oper, Mozart Saal - Frankfurt/Main - Germany
 
13.11.2004 Musik der Zeit, Ensemble Modern - Kasper de Roo, Funkhaus Wallrafplatz - Köln - Germany
 
03.10.1999 ULTIMA 1999, BIT20 Ensemble - Ingar Bergby, Oslo - Norway
   

26.06.1999

 Aldeburgh Festival 1999, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group - Thomas Adès
Snape Maltings Concert Hall - Aldeburgh - United Kingdom