He studied composition at Columbia University and at the
Manhattan School of Music after which he worked as assistant to the producer on
the Leonard Bernstein Young People's Concerts, and as a session producer for
classical artists such as André Watts.
Corigliano first came to prominence in 1964 when, at the age
of 26, his Sonata for Violin and Piano
(1963) was the only winner of the chamber-music competition of the Spoleto
Festival of Two Worlds in Italy. He composed his Vocalise (1999), Concerto for
Clarinet and Orchestra (1977) and Fantasia
on an Ostinato (1986) for the New York Philharmonic and his Poem in October
(1970) for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Centre. His Oboe Concerto for the New York State
Council on the Arts followed in 1975 and his Promenade Overture for James Galway in 1981. His Symphony No. 2 was commissioned by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Symphony Hall in
2001.
In 1991 he was awarded the University of Louisville
Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for his Symphony No. 1 (1991) and the Pulitzer Prize for his Symphony No. 2 (2001).
Most of Corigliano's work has been for symphony orchestra.
He employs a wide variety of styles, sometimes even within the same work, but
aims to make his work accessible to a relatively large audience. To date he has
written three symphonies, as well as works for string orchestra and wind band.
Corigliano has also written film scores, various chamber and solo instrument
works and the opera, The Ghosts of
Versailles as well as concerti for clarinet, flute, violin, oboe, piano and
Conjurer
– a Concerto for Percussionist and String Orchestra with optional Brass (2007)
It is this last work that
features on a new release from Naxos www.naxos.com
together with Vocalise (1999).
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| 8.559757 |
David Alan Miller www.albanysymphony.com/discover/miller conducts the Albany Symphony Orchestra www.albanysymphony.com with the percussionist Evelyn Glennie www.evelyn.co.uk and soprano Hila Plitmann http://hilaplitmann.com .
Conjurer is
written in three movements each separated by a cadenza. Cadenza I opens with little percussion taps across a range of
instruments developing a real sense of anticipation until eventually arriving
on the xylophone with running scales and a variety of little motifs. With Movement I: WOOD the orchestra finally
arrives with an incisive theme. The marimba enters dancing over the orchestral
theme before the quieter opening tapping sounds return but they soon become
more animated as the orchestra increases in intensity. There is some terrific
playing from Evelyn Glennie.
Cadenza II: follows
without a break, announced by the tam tam. Tubular bells sound in a very
striking moment before flourishes from the cymbals and various metallic sounds.
Tubular bells sound again, played so sensitively, creating a wonderful
atmosphere before we are led into Movement
II: METAL where the hushed string orchestra introduces an exquisite melody.
Eventually, hushed notes on the vibraphone appear against the beautiful string
melody that slowly moves forward. This is a glorious moment. Eventually the music
becomes more animated leading to a climax with the tubular bells and cymbals
re-appearing before calming to a hushed orchestra with gentle sounds from the vibraphone
– a sumptuous sound, beautifully conceived and played to perfection.
Cadenza III features
the ‘Talking Drum’, a drum that is played by the hands and can be squeezed to
change pitch, and kick drum that enters over a sustained string chord from the
preceding movement. The music slowly builds in tempo and rhythm to a climax as
it leads into Movement III: SKIN where
the orchestra imitates the slow build-up of the preceding drum cadenza. Drums
enter as the music builds, moving slowly forward. The music suddenly quietens
with bass strings, before a little string melody emerges from the mists with
deep tympanum sounds. The orchestra starts to build again against drumming with
Glennie again providing such controlled playing, combining so well with the
orchestral sounds. As the music slowly builds again Glennie provides massive
drum strokes leading to a final cadenza, a massive virtuoso performance as she
pushes the music ahead to the coda, with a terrific end from orchestra and
drums.
Evelyn Glennie is terrific in this work, often blending
subtle percussion sounds into the fine orchestral sounds of the Albany Symphony
Orchestra.
Vocalise was
first performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur
in 1999 following their commission of the work.
A mournful voice opens Vocalise, almost with the feel of a
native chant. As the music broadens, bell sounds appear and electronic sounds
slowly emerge. Soprano, Hila Plitmann, shows tremendous textual range. A
plaintive piccolo enters before orchestral and electronic sounds add a
glittering accompaniment. As the vocalising continues, strange sounds accompany
the voice. Plitmann builds up her vocal sounds dramatically as does the
orchestra, becoming quite passionate. A quieter section follows before agitated
orchestral phrases lead to an increasingly romantic melody that leads to a
dramatic orchestral climax. As the soprano re-joins the orchestra, the music
leads to an increasingly dramatic build up where her voice is captured by a
microphone ‘loop’ and echoed around the venue in a strikingly unusual effect.
The orchestral outbursts are treated the same way before leading to a terrific
climax of swirling orchestral sounds that dies away to the voice with brass and
woodwind accompaniment. The orchestra leads to a gently swaying melody with
strange wiry electronic accompaniment. Plitmann’s voice is echoed again with
the tiniest tinkling accompaniment, quite ethereal in sound. The soprano adds strange
pulsating sounds as her voice is ‘looped’ around before fading out.
Hila Plitmann’s singing in this unusual and attractive work
is wonderful, seemingly effortless and very finely controlled.
David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony Orchestra are
first rate on this fascinating and worthwhile disc. A special mention should be
made of the highly effective electronic sounds produced and performed by Mark
Baechle.
The recording made in the beautiful acoustic of the Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New York is excellent and there are informative
notes by composer.
See also:
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