Kevin Puts
Concerto for Orchestra
(2022)
Warning : Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.
PROGRAMNOTE
ConcertoforOrchestra grewoutofmyfriendshipwithconductor StéphaneDenève.Itis dedicatedbothtohimandtothemusiciansoftheSaintLouisSymphonyOrchestra,for whomIhavedevelopedgreatadmirationsincetheirrstperformanceofmymusicin 2004.
ThecreativeentrypointformewasthediscoveryofyoungAmandaGorman’sbeautiful poem“HymnfortheHurting”writteninresponsetothehorricschoolshooting—an occurrencenowroutineinourcountry—inUvalde,TexasinMay2022.Themusicatthe concerto’sopening—recalledbrieyatvariousplacesthroughoutthepiece—ismy immediatemusicalreactiontoit.Thetitleofthesecondmovement,“Caccia”,isa referencetothe14th centurymusicalformdepictingthehuntorthechaseandows directlyfromthisopeninghymn.Itcontinuestheopeningmovement’sfocusonthe variousgroupsofinstrumentsintheorchestrabeginningwiththeoboesand punctuatedatalltimesbytheorchestra'sthreepercussionistswhoplayidentical collectionsofsixdrums.“MusicBoxwithArietta”,bycontrast,exploresthegentlerside ofthepercussionsection,ledherebycascadinggesturesplayedbytheharpand celesta,givingwaytoalyricalcounterpointofwoodwinds.“Toccata”isaquick exchangebetweenthestrings,thewinds,andthepercussion.Eventuallythebrass sectionassertsitself,cuttingacrosstheseexchangeswithbrash,angularlines.Abrief refrainoftheopeningmovementleadstoagentle“Sicilienne”featuringnearlyall instrumentsintheorchestrainlyricalways,perhapsmostprominentlythepiano. Anotherrefrainintroducesthenalmovement,another“Caccia”,thisonecontaining thebriefquotationfromaMozartoperawhichinspiredit.
—KP
INSTRUMENTATION
3Flutes(III=Piccolo)
2Oboes
EnglishHorn
3ClarinetsinBb&A
3Bassoons(III=Contrabassoon)
4HornsinF
3TrumpetsinC
2Trombones
BassTrombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion(3players):
Player1
Vibraphone
SnareDrum SuspendedCymbal
2Bongos
2Timbales
2Tom-toms
Player2 Glockenspiel
Marimba SuspendedCymbal
Triangle
2Bongos
2Timbales
2Tom-toms
Player3 Chimes Xylophone BassDrum
2Bongos
2Timbales
2Tom-toms
Harp
Piano(=Celesta)
Strings
TransposedScore
Duration:c.22mins
I.HymnfortheHurting........................................pg.1
II.Cacciano.1.......................................................pg.8
III.MusicBoxwithArietta........................ pg.27
IV.Toccata.............................. ........pg.34
V.Sicilienne..............................................................pg.56
VI.EccolaMarcia?(Cacciano.2) .pg.74
CommissionedbytheSt.LouisSymphonyOrchestra, theMinnesotaOrchestra,andtheCabrilloFestivalofContemporaryMusic, withthegeneroussupportofJeffreyandDeborahPierceandJosephandBetteHirsch.
PremieredonJanuary21st&22nd,2023 atPowellHall,St.Louis bytheSt.LouisSymphonyOrchestra,conductedbyStéphaneDenève
moltoespr.
moltoespr.
moltoespr.
‰ œrœ œ œ J‰‰Œ ‰ œrœ œb œb J‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ r œj‰‰Œ œœœb#œœ œn ‰ œrœ œ œ J‰‰Œ ‰ œrœ œb œb J‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ r œj‰‰Œ œœœ ‰ œrœ œ œ J‰‰Œ ‰ œrœ J‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ œ R J‰‰‰ r œj‰‰Œ œ œ ‰ œrœ œ œ J‰‰Œ ‰ œrœ J‰‰‰™ œ RœbJ‰‰‰™ œ R J‰‰‰™ r œj‰‰Œ œ œ ‰ œrœ œ œ J‰‰Œ ‰ œrœ J‰‰‰ œ RœbJ‰‰‰ œ R J‰‰‰ r œj‰‰Œ Œ straightmute
J‰‰Œ