Thea Musgrave: Points Of View

Beskrivning

For Chamber Orchestra (Flute, Oboe, Cor Anglais, Basson, Horn in F, Trumpet in C,
Strings: [5.4.3.2.1])

Composer's Programme Note:

Points of View is a work about the different musical elements, which are
personified by soloists from the orchestra, all unifying at the end in a passionate
climax.

The first section ‘Mysterious’ features a solo horn and also establishes tonality [B
flat], texture and harmony. The harmonies are often chordal 6-note clusters and
they are an important binding, articulating and textual element throughout the
work.

A solo trumpet joins the solo horn and, as the chordal clusters disappear into
the stratosphere, initiates the rhythm of a light-hearted scherzo – ‘Lively’. The
trumpet’s rhythmic figure is echoed and developed by the winds.
The solo oboe and cor anglais now introduce a very lyrical melody in falling
thirds ‘Sensuous’. The chordal clusters as well as the trumpet’s rhythmic figure
eventually reappear to accompany this melodic theme and then the violins
passionately respond by taking it over – ‘Passionato’. All the elements thus
unifying to culminate in the coda.

These elements could also perhaps be described in non-musical terms as
‘imagination’ [solo horn], ‘action’ [solo trumpet], ‘emotion’ [solo oboe and cor
anglais] which eventually combine in the climax [violins].

Innehåll
Points Of View