Invisible Cities
A Concerto for Percussion Quartet, inspired by selected short stories of Italo Calvino
Dinuk Wijeratne
Ensemble: Wind Ensemble
Solo Instrument: Percussion Quartet
Duration: 27:00
Year of Composition: 2014
Commissioned by: TorQ Percussion Quartet
Premiered by: TorQ Percussion Quartet with University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra (Darrin Oehlerking, conductor)
Date of Premiere: April 4, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Composer
Links:
4 Solo Percussion
Piccolo
Flutes 1,2
Oboes 1,2
Bassoons 1,2
B♭ Clarinets 1,2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
B♭ Soprano Sax
E♭ Alto Sax
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2,3
F Horns 1,2,3,4
Trombones 1,2,3
Euphonium
Tuba
Double Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion (2 players)
Commissioned by TorQ Percussion Quartet with support from Arts Nova Scotia, the University of Saskatchewan, Mount Allison University, and Memorial University of Newfoundland.
In five movements:
I. Valdrada
II. Armilla
III. Chloe
IV. Ersilia
V. Olinda
Program Notes:
Like all artists who are not authors and who have come upon Italo Calvino’s breathtaking book Invisible Cities, I was indelibly moved, questioning the possibility of making my own creations inspired by his other-worldly imaginings. The stories themselves call for a grand palette of colour, and when the opportunity to write for percussion soloists and large wind ensemble came along, I saw a good fit. I am so very grateful to TorQ and to Darrin Oehlerking for creating the wonderful opportunity to realize this music, and for the generous support of Arts Nova Scotia.
The music of this project has evolved into a five-movement Concerto for Percussion Quartet and Wind Ensemble, entitled Invisible Cities. Each movement is a musical response to a different Calvino city, from the musical symmetries of "Valdrada" and the Gamelan-inspired "Armilla", through the Senegalese rhythms of "Chloe" and South-Indian rhythms of "Ersilia", to the fractal-inspired "Olinda".
(Dinuk Wijeratne, notes from the premiere performance)
