2(I=afl, I,II=picc).2.2(II=bcl).2(II=dbn)-2.2.2.1-timp(=rainstick)-perc(2)-hp-str(all divided in 2)
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
For Timothy Ridout
Hold Your Heart In Your Teeth takes its title from the Romanian proverb “A-ti lua inima în dinti” which means: to face your fears head on and move forward with courage. I resonated not only with the emotional sentiment of this proverb, but also the powerful imagery.
The piece begins with an explosion, which immediately falls into the depths of the orchestra. Low strings pulsate gently from where emerges the viola. What follows are four ‘stanzas’:
Stanza 1: Pained and expressive melodic fragments from the viola’s lowest string with orchestral interjections.
Stanza 2: Low, melodic fragments on the viola, again leading to a large orchestral tutti.
Stanza 3: Lamentoso. Darker and more intensely painful music opening out to something more energetic.
Stanza 4: Extremely tender melodic phrases above delicate string chords.
The second movement (which follows directly from the first) is highly energetic and very rhythmical. Ending with a quasi-folk dance in 11/8 (3,2,2,4).
The third movement begins deep in the orchestra with a cello solo, from which the viola emerges. A cadenza forms the centre of the movement. Fast music then leads us to a quotation from the first movement, and then to the finale of the piece.
Mark Simpson, 2024