Strands

Strands is designed very much as a concert opener. Indeed, the first thing you hear is the sound of the orchestra 'tuning up', albeit fully written out. In this brief introduction, there are snippets of the music that will be played when the piece 'begins' proper. The music is built up out of various renditions of a diminutive theme - strands, if you like. As the piece warms up, these strands eventually combine to produce something which sounds quite vigorous. However, at any given moment, this energy is in danger of evaporating, and there are several gossamer episodes, most notably in the clarinets. Even the sound of the oboe's tuning A threatens to change the music's direction, and this A becomes a structural element, closing the piece in a circular fashion.

David Horne

Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer