PANUFNIK
Twenty
An Overture for Orchestra
Score
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ROXANNA PANUFNIK
An Overture for Orchestra
(2022)
Commissioned by Simon Over to celebrate the Twentieth Anniversary of Southbank Sinfonia
EDITION PETERS
ISUU Version
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INSTRUMENTS
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Cor Anglais
Clarinet in B b
Bass Clarinet in B b Bassoon
Contrabassoon
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C Timpani
Percussion (2 players): Tom-toms, Bass Drum, Snare Drum Strings (6.4.4.4.2 are recommended)
Duration: c. 4 minutes
PROGRAMME NOTE
When Simon Over asked me if I would write Southbank Sinfonia a 20th anniversary overture, he also requested that I collaborate with orchestra’s members in the creation of the piece. I sent them all a questionnaire with the following questions: What does the number 20 mean to you? What are your favourite effects/techniques/figurations to play? What do you do you wish you could be doing more of, within the orchestra?
I have included as many of their requests as possible, which you’ll see in bold, in the description of the piece below. The woodwind all requested that they play on their doubling instruments so they are scored as piccolo, flute, oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon
TWENTY is based on a progression of 20 harmonies, which we hear initially in a chorale-like fashion with quintuplet flourishes throughout the orchestra. The time signature is always in divisibles of 20 – multiples of 5, 4 and 10. The percussion starts with a complex rhythm that pits 5 against 4.
In A. with anticipation of joys to come, the harmonies (1 – 5) become excited ostinato (including some nifty double-stopping in the horns), accompanying various instruments as they play their carefree, light, cheerful melodies. A request for 6/8 + 2/4 (neatly becoming 10/8 and an opportunity to combine 6/8 against 3/4) gives us a driving rhythm, played with spread pizzicato and open string arpeggios in the strings. Soloistic playing in the double basses start the melodic ball rolling. Then the bassoons carry on the melody with glissandi and rising scales in 3rds. The ‘cellos take over, fulfilling their wish to duet with other orchestral instruments in a different pitch zone, the flute and piccolo. The double basses further accentuate the 10/8 rhythm with Bartok pizzicatos
Interestingly, the wind and upper players unanimously requested some ethereal effects so the next section B. Mysterioso, makes use of fluttering and pitch-bends in the winds, harmonics in the violins and bisbigliando trills on the bassoons. The woodwinds pass the melodies between themselves as the harmonies (6 – 15) gracefully propel us towards C. Locomotively. In the players’ thoughts about the number 20, their sense of excitement at having all the freedoms of adulthood with no responsibilities and the anticipation at the decade to come was pretty much universal. So, we start this last section slowly and at the bottom end of the orchestra with harmonies’ 16 – 20’s bass line. At first trepidatious, more instruments join in becoming faster and faster as the train of adulthood gathers in pace, finishing in a pyrotechnic display of all 20 harmonies.
I am hugely grateful to Simon Over for commissioning this piece – and to the players of Southbank Sinfonia who were hugely inspirational with their requests and generous with their time in trying things out. The piece is dedicated to Simon Over, celebrating the Twentieth Anniversary of Southbank Sinfonia.
Roxanna Panufnik, 25th July 2022
TWENTY
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ROXANNA PANUFNIK
Oboe
Cor Anglais
Clarinet in Bb
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
Tom-toms
Bass Drum
Violin I
Violin II
Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
REQUEST: duet with another unexpected instrument
ISUU Version
REQUEST: quiet melodies, playing within a texture
REQUEST: pitch bends, fluttering
REQUEST: pitch bends, fluttering
ISUU Version
(slowly bend pitch up)
REQUEST: pitch bends, fluttering (slowly bend pitch down)
(slowly bend pitch up)
ISUU Version For perusal
ISUU Version
Locomotively q= 60
Locomotively q= 60 molto accel. molto accel.
ISUU Version For
(long slow slide on D string, pitches given are a rough guide of where you should be!)
(long slow slide on G string, pitches given are a rough guide of where you should be!) gliss.
(long slow slide on G string, pitches given are a rough guide of where you should be!) gliss. 3
(long slow slide on D string, pitches given are a rough guide of where you should be!)
gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss.
gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss. gliss.
gliss.
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
Roxanna Panufnik
Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968) studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and since then has written a wide range of works including opera, ballet, choral, orchestral and chamber compositions. Her great love of world music is evident in works such as her Four World Seasons for violinist Tasmin Little; Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland, written for the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Poland and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to mark the centenary of Poland’s regained independence; and Songs of Darkness, Dreams of Light for the 2018 BBC Last Night of the Proms. Panufnik’s Across the Line of Dreams for two conductors, two choirs and orchestra received its premiere in 2019 with Marin Alsop, Valentina Peleggi and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Roxanna Panufnik (*1968) studierte Komposition an der Londoner Royal Academy of Music. Ihr vielfältiges Schaffen erstreckt sich von Opern und Balletten über Chor- und Orchesterwerke bis hin zur Kammermusik. Von ihrer großen Affinität zur Weltmusik zeugen u. a. die Four World Seasons für die Geigerin Tasmin Little, das Werk Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland, komponiert für das Nationale Symphonieorchester des Polnischen Rundfunks und das City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra zum 100. Jahrestag der Wiederherstellung der polnischen Unabhängigkeit, sowie Songs of Darkness, Dreams of Light für die BBC Last Night of the Proms 2018. Panufniks Across the Line of Dreams für zwei Dirigierende, zwei Chöre und Orchester wurde 2019 von Marin Alsop, Valentina Peleggi und dem Baltimore Symphony Orchestra uraufgeführt.
Photo © Benjamin Ealovega