Last Post And Rêveille

Sonatas - Six Pieces of Music for Large Wind Ensemble Percussion Harp and Piano by Poul Ruders (2011). Preface / Programme Note Normally when being confronted with the term ´sonata´ we tend tothink of a substantial composition for piano solo in three movements predominantly by Mozart or Beethoven. The word however derives from the Italian ´sonare´ meaning ´to play´. In the 16th. Century acomposition entitled ´sonata´ merely indicated a piece of music forinstruments as opposed to the ´cantata´ - a piece involving voices. The Italian cantare simply means´to sing´. The present suite SONATAS is a composition subtitled ´six pieces of music for large wind ensemble percussion piano and harp´. It opens with a REVEILLE a short ´wake-up call´ a fanfare opening the gate into what follows. The second movement is called PASTORALE and certainly is that a peaceful unfolding of gentlechords and sounds of a bucolic nature. Nothing dramatic happens whereas in the third movement SCHERZO the wood winds chaseeach other in a wild relay run. Then all of a sudden the mood changes and we are plunged rightinto the middle of the darkest night. In the NOCTURNE unnervingly subtitled sinistro the low rumbling chords in the trombones and prickly outburst in oboes and horns form the sinister back drop to this wordless Grand Guignol. Which merges seamlessly into PANORAMA an unfolding festive almost pageant like ´sound-scape´of dancing rhytms and jubilant scales. Slowly however the tempodrops and the former boisterous body of sound is being slowly and mercilessly ´skeletonized´ - and at the end there is nothing left. RETRAITE - 'the last post'. The day is over the sun sets. Parts are for hire: hire@ewh.dk. Orchestration: 4444/6441/timp.3perc/hp.pf