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Tanglewood Festival Presents US Premieres of Colin Matthews’ Turning Point and Alexander Goehr's Since Brass, nor Stone... and Features Bernard Rands' “now again”-fragments from Sappho

Jul. 08, 2010

On Monday, August 16, The Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music presents the US premiere of Colin Matthews’ orchestral work Turning Point in a program led by conductors Robert Spano and Oliver Knussen. Commissioned by the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2003, Turning Point is an 18-minute unleashing of chaotic orchestral forces. Matthews elaborates:

Having completed the first main section, I couldn't find the way to continue and put the piece aside .... This first section was almost wholly fast music, and when I came back to it, the continuation was even faster–a whirling, scherzo-like episode. Again I found it difficult to make any further progress until I realized that what was needed was a complete change of direction–a turning point. The third part of the piece, almost half of the whole, is very slow and intense, and in complete contrast to the earlier music (although based entirely on the same material) .... The turning point itself is very clear ... I hope the work will leave an impression of complex momentum countered by expressive simplicity.

This year's festival of contemporary music will also feature the US Premiere of Alexander Goehr's Since Brass, nor Stone... on August 15. Having earned Goehr a British Composer Award, the work was praised by that panel of judges for its “fresh lyricism,lightness of touch and joy in melodicand rhythmic invention.” The panel’sdecision was unanimous for a workwhich they hailed as that of a master.We look forward to celebratingAlexander Goehr’s 80th birthday in2012.

On July 8, the Tanglewood Music Center presented a program of Vocal Chamber Music at Seiji Ozawa Hall featuring Bernard Rands’ “now again”-fragments from Sappho. The piece just saw a performance at the June in Buffalo Festival and is now available on a new recording by Network for New Music entitled Now Again-Music by Bernard Rands on Albany Records. The recording is a hearty sampling of the composer’s chamber oeuvre and includes his Prelude...sans voix parmi les voix...,Scherzi and Walcott Songs.

Visit www.schott-music.com for more on Bernard Rands and Alexander Goehr.

Purchase Now Again-Music by Bernard Rands here.

For more information on Colin Matthews and his music, please go to www.fabermusic.com.

Colin Matthews
Turning Point (2006)
for orchestra
2(I.2.pic).afl.2.ca.2.bcl.cbcl.2.cbsn-4.3.4.1-timp-3perc-2harp-pno(cel)-str
18’

Alexander Goehr
Since Brass, nor Stone... (2008)
fantasy for string quartet and percussion
12'

Bernard Rands
“now again"- fragments from Sappho (2006)
for mezzo-soprano and ensemble
fl(afl).cl(bcl).tp.hp.perc.vn.va.vc.alto voice
17'

Prelude...sans voix parmi les voix... (2004)
for flute, viola, harp
12’

Scherzi (1974)
for chamber ensemble
cl(bcl).pno.vn.vc.
18’

Walcott Songs (2004)
for mezzo-soprano and cello
15’

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