Tommy Fowler

Programme Note

A few years ago, I wrote a trio for violin, clarinet and cello entitled "Danny in the Park." This piece was first performed by the Edinburgh duo Two's Company who were joined for the occasion by cellist Tim Paxton. The piece was written while I was studying the madrigals of Renaissance composer Orlando de Lassus and was influenced by that style of music. As a result of his involvement with the piece, Tim Paxton asked me to write something for the orchestra he conducted. It is fitting therefore that for this piece, I should re-visit the Lassus madrigals; one madrigal in particular, in fact, entitled "Vinum Bonum et Suave (Good Wine and Sweet)." The piece has two continuous sections; one slow and one faster. I have re-used some of the harmonies and rhythms of the original madrigal but most of the borrowed musical material has undergone a good deal of transformation I found it interesting to hear what could be done with these basic materials, written for mixed voices and transplanted into an orchestral setting. A feature of the orchestral colouring is the use of solo strings which are heard at the beginning and return later. This allows a presentation of some of the material which is closer to the original individual voice texture.

Notes

Dedicated to Tim Paxton.