Work
Concerto for guitar and small orchestra
for guitar and chamber orchestra
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About
The Concerto was commissioned by Matthew Marshall and the Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Orchestra Wellington), completed in May 1992 for a first performance planned for November 1992, and later postponed until May 1993.
This work is in three movements (quick – slow – quick), but these are connected by cadenza-like links for the guitar soloist, so that the music is continuous. In view of the balance problems in a guitar concerto I have written for a small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, percussion and strings), and treated the relationship between solo and orchestra in a concertante style – sharing material rather than opposing each other, and aiming throughout to make the guitar easily audible. Dance rhythms, with touches of rhumba and jazz, predominate in the quick movements, while the slow central movement uses variable speed tremolo on the guitar to enhance its singing qualities.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Matthew Marshall and the Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Orchestra Wellington)
Contents note
Three movements
Performance history
05 Jun 1993: Performed by Matthew Marshall (guitar), Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Vector Wellington Orchestra), conducted by Andrew Sewell
12 Oct 1996: Performed by Matthew Marshall (guitar), University of Guanajato Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Sewell, at the Cervantino Festival, Guanajato, Mexico.