The American Seasons (double basses part – violin and string orchestra)
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SKU: A0.861933
Composed by Mark O'Connor. 20th Century,Contemporary,Folk. Score and parts. 44 pages. Mark O'Connor Musik International #6208117. Published by Mark O'Connor Musik International (A0.861933).The American Seasons (double basses part – violin and string orchestra) MO148H
Double Basses Part (score and parts available)
Music by Mark O’Connor
40 pages - 38:00 minutes in length
The American Seasons
(Seasons Of An American Life)
"The American Seasons" (Seasons Of An American Life) is a concerto for Violin And Chamber Orchestra. Composed in 1999, the music celebrates the various stages of an American life at the waking of the 21st century. Constructed in four movements and representing four stages of life, birth, adolescence, maturity and old age, the music also pays homage to Shakespeare's Seasons Of Man "His acts being seven ages", incorporated throughout the work.
"Spring" introduces the ideas of birth and infancy. After the principal theme has been stated, there is a violin cadenza encountering all twelve major keys and a 13/8 time signature representing the ancient golden ratio. These elements recall birth with all the possibilities a new life offers. Ending the movement, the principal theme is repeated with more complexity... as if posing life's questions.
"Summer" represents the excitement and bravado of youthful adolescence and young adulthood. For the style of this movement I use a happy-go-lucky Blues voice which melds into Swing. I identify swing rhythm in all of 20th century American music culture as a common thread that runs through Ragtime through Rock and Roll on to Rap. Swing means testing the waters and pushing the envelope for lovers and soldiers.
"Fall" is the slow movement symbolizing the wisdom of maturity. It is a peaceful theme with nostalgic strokes. It is a time for sincere reflection and enjoying ones accomplishments in life.
"Winter" embodies the complexities and knowledge of an older person and that of a dying person. The movement begins with the principal them from "Spring", but with a dissonance that emanates from a lifetime full of emotions and responsibilities. In the middle of the movement is a transition to an old world. I use my personal ancestry from Ireland as a foundation from which to rediscover one's lineage and explore the meaning and value of a cultural legacy.
The exploration evolves into a four- and five-part fugue with a reel, jig, air, countered bass and the motif from the principal theme. All these elements, dances and melodies appear simultaneously and converge to form a unique insight to life's consequences from a historical perspective. Following the fugue, the principal theme finds its way back in. It sounds much as it did at birth. In the end, the solo violin cadenza carries the last earthly breaths before the violin and orchestra once again join in harmony to focus on a new life being transformed somewhere else. Life's four seasons in perpetuity.
Original music printed from the composer’s manuscripts.
Music editing, copying and engraving by Mark O’Connor
using "Finale" on Apple Macintosh 1999
Composed by Mark O’Connor
Commissioned by the Troy Savings Bank Concert Hall for their 2000 Celebration
Can be heard on "American Seasons" Sony Classical and "The Essential Mark O’Connor" Sony Classical
Mark O’Connor - violin, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, Scott Yoo
Catalogue Number MO148H
Copyright © 1999 by Mark O’Connor Music International
For more information on violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, O’Connor String Camps, Touring Ensembles, Discography, Bio, Repertoire and more, please visit
www.markoconnor.com
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