Preludes of the night
for guitar (2017)
duration 10 minutes
premiere 16th September 2017 by Mikkel Egelund Nielsen at Aalborg Koster in Aalborg, Denmark
score available from Donemus
program
Five short movements, each exploring a nocturnal mood, make up my Preludes of the Night for guitar. Opened by a scene-setting wandering through the low notes of the instrument, the first movement soon wakes up to a shimmering sound that persists towards a dynamic climax and capitulation. The second movement explores the use of the traditional nocturne's ever-embellished melody over accompaniment, though with an accompaniment that slowly accelerates to eventually join the theme in coming to rest on the final chords.
The third movement is a swift movement contrasting between a rhythmic percussiveness and a flowing melodicism. It is in the play between these two elements that the music finds its tension, with the percussive sound eventually winning the day (or night!)...or does it? The fourth movement is a painting of the night sky, or are those church bells ringing through the darkness? Gentle strumming passages and a simple thematic motif mingle with many gentle harmonics to create a multi-layered picture of what it is to look up at night.
For the fifth movement, the night comes to an end. The music struggles in its search for calm...through swirling visions, dances and blazing activity we arrive at the final surrender to sleep as deep chords under a blanket of slowing high swirls quieten.
duration 10 minutes
premiere 16th September 2017 by Mikkel Egelund Nielsen at Aalborg Koster in Aalborg, Denmark
score available from Donemus
program
Five short movements, each exploring a nocturnal mood, make up my Preludes of the Night for guitar. Opened by a scene-setting wandering through the low notes of the instrument, the first movement soon wakes up to a shimmering sound that persists towards a dynamic climax and capitulation. The second movement explores the use of the traditional nocturne's ever-embellished melody over accompaniment, though with an accompaniment that slowly accelerates to eventually join the theme in coming to rest on the final chords.
The third movement is a swift movement contrasting between a rhythmic percussiveness and a flowing melodicism. It is in the play between these two elements that the music finds its tension, with the percussive sound eventually winning the day (or night!)...or does it? The fourth movement is a painting of the night sky, or are those church bells ringing through the darkness? Gentle strumming passages and a simple thematic motif mingle with many gentle harmonics to create a multi-layered picture of what it is to look up at night.
For the fifth movement, the night comes to an end. The music struggles in its search for calm...through swirling visions, dances and blazing activity we arrive at the final surrender to sleep as deep chords under a blanket of slowing high swirls quieten.