Suite For String Orchestra - II. Trapped waltz by Robert Paterson Composer published on 2019-08-28T00:39:16Z Suite for String Orchestra Duration: 15' For More Information: https://robertpaterson.com/suite-for-string-orchestra Publisher: Bill Holab Music: http://www.billholabmusic.com/composers/robert-paterson/ Purchase Sheet Music: http://billholabmusic.com/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=%22suite+for+string+orchestra%22 PROGRAM NOTE Unlike some of my previous works, Suite for String Orchestra is not inspired by an over-arching programmatic theme. Although there are some technical and motivic relationships between some of the movements—particularly the first and fifth—the movements are generally unrelated and are meant to be noticeably distinct. It is in five short movements and is intentionally written in an “old-fashioned,” somewhat archaic style. I initially played around with the idea of titling this work Old-fashioned Suite or Old Time Suite, but there seems to be a sufficient sprinkling of “new fangled ideas” in this work to make these alternative titles seem inadequate. The first movement, Allegro vivace, is written in a “mid-20th century American” style. My model for a few of the sections in this movement is the evocative, German phrase Sturm und Drang, which literally translated means “storm and stress.” In the second movement, Trapped waltz, I imagine an ethereal, yet cognizant waltz floating above the stratosphere, looking for a place to rest, but hobbled and shackled by a pounding rock and roll drumset. I see this as a metaphor for the various dances throughout history that have come and gone but are continually vying for attention in contemporary culture. The movement fades out at the end, as if the waltz is eternally looking for a place to settle down. Admittedly, I was somewhat inspired by the collage works of Charles Ives. The third movement, Nocturne, begins slowly and sadly, and I imagine the pulse in the beginning as similar to the gentle breathing of someone who is asleep. The middle of the movement is much more intense and violent, and the end is as soft and calm as the beginning. The first chair violin and the first chair violoncello have brief solos in this movement. Although material from the middle of the fourth movement, Balinese scherzo, is derived from a Balinese scale, the beginning is somewhat chromatic and the ending is essentially based on the E-major scale. This movement is distinctive in that the orchestra is asked to play pizzicato almost the entire time. The fifth movement, Finale: allegro moderato, is the movement that is most reminiscent of the first movement. The ending combines material from the beginning of both the first and fifth movements. Genre Classical Comment by Simon Alami Composer Wow…well that’s a waltz ! Electrifying! Well done Robert 2022-08-12T23:31:58Z Comment by Twice Born beautiful composition! really well done 👏 2022-08-11T23:45:40Z Comment by Loue Ghazi Music Love it as full of orchestra and full of wonderful music classical work well done my friend 2022-08-11T14:52:58Z Comment by Gom Jabbar Structurally brilliant, musically fascinating, with a lot of cinematic potential in the many expressive moments. The violin bow bounces were my favorite. Will listen to this again and again. Is it published work? 2021-10-08T14:37:06Z Comment by Alisa Wunder I love it! So collorful and funny, absolutely my taste! 2021-04-01T18:27:58Z Comment by Sabine Alexander Woww!! This is awesome, Great work Robert. Congratulations!! 2021-01-23T19:02:54Z Comment by Ladat Nice short waltz wrapped in awesome modern composition. 2021-01-15T15:55:05Z Comment by Dika Chartoff a danse macabre of the sorts, but it still makes me want to dance , love it 2020-12-20T03:49:16Z Comment by Igor Iofe Love the grotesque here!! Great creative use of the waltz patterns combined with contemporary phrases 2020-12-19T16:40:46Z Comment by TGSS/Langsämmer /Jünger/ Laxá/The Dark Messiahs The slight confinement and sense of unease is really captured well, opening up a little towards the end of the piece. 2020-12-19T14:52:11Z