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- Morton Gould
Vivaldi Gallery for String Quartet and Divided Orchestra (1968)
- G&C Music Corporation (World)
Programme Note
Composer note:
Vivaldi Gallery is literally a musical gallery of his materials in the shape of thematic references, motifs – in some cases secondary obbligatos – which I used to build an extended work utilizing divided orchestral choirs. The strings are separated into Sting Orchestra I on one side of the stage, Sting Orchestra II on the other and in the center is a third group consisting of a string quartet. The woodwinds, brass, horns, and harp are also divided into various groups which act as the ‘continuo,’ the harmonic realization originally performed by the harpsichord and organ. These wind and brass choirs support and enhance the two sting orchestras and the string quartet.
The original Vivaldi sources are too many and in many cases too fragmented to enumerate, but the themes and motifs are transformed from his varied and various instrumental concertos, chamber music works, and vocal music. Vivaldi wrote much of his music for the all-girl instrumental and vocal ensembles he trained and taught – in the orphanage where they resided – and which gave regular concerts for the noble patrons of the institution. These concerts took place in the Galleria, which influenced my choice of title. As is well known, Vivaldi has been a source for many composers down through our musical history; among his best and most eloquent customers was, of course, Bach….the texture (of Vivaldi Gallery) is lineal and highly contrapuntal throughout. The work is dedicated to Milton Katims, who conducted the premiere in Seattle on March 25, 1968.
---Morton Gould
Vivaldi Gallery is literally a musical gallery of his materials in the shape of thematic references, motifs – in some cases secondary obbligatos – which I used to build an extended work utilizing divided orchestral choirs. The strings are separated into Sting Orchestra I on one side of the stage, Sting Orchestra II on the other and in the center is a third group consisting of a string quartet. The woodwinds, brass, horns, and harp are also divided into various groups which act as the ‘continuo,’ the harmonic realization originally performed by the harpsichord and organ. These wind and brass choirs support and enhance the two sting orchestras and the string quartet.
The original Vivaldi sources are too many and in many cases too fragmented to enumerate, but the themes and motifs are transformed from his varied and various instrumental concertos, chamber music works, and vocal music. Vivaldi wrote much of his music for the all-girl instrumental and vocal ensembles he trained and taught – in the orphanage where they resided – and which gave regular concerts for the noble patrons of the institution. These concerts took place in the Galleria, which influenced my choice of title. As is well known, Vivaldi has been a source for many composers down through our musical history; among his best and most eloquent customers was, of course, Bach….the texture (of Vivaldi Gallery) is lineal and highly contrapuntal throughout. The work is dedicated to Milton Katims, who conducted the premiere in Seattle on March 25, 1968.
---Morton Gould