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Duration: c. 13'
1) SOLO CONTRABASSOON WITH CLARINET, HORN, AND STRINGS
COMMISSIONED by the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia for contrabassoonist Norman Spielberg.
PREMIERED November 3, 1991 by Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Norman Spielberg contrabassoon; James Freeman guest conductor.
PERFORMANCES include the 2010 IDRS Convention orchestra gala; Colorado Symphony; Louisville Orchestra, and many others.
Orchestral parts are available on rental from Presser.
AUDIO EXCERPTS: Roger Soren's performance with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Daniel Hege:
from Mvt. 1
from Mvt. 2
from Mvt. 3
View the complete orchestra score (on Score and Parts tab)
Texas UIL Prescribed Music List for all-state audition repertoire (with piano reduction).
2) QUARTET VERSION: CONTRABASSOON, CLARINET, HORN, AND PIANO
Contrabassoon, Clarinet, Horn parts identical to orchestra version, piano plays the string parts.
PREMIERE of Quartet Version: Lori Tiberio (cbn.) and UNC-Charlotte faculty, April 1996.
PERFORMANCES include 1996 IDRS annual convention (Susan Nigro, cbn.)
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
3) CONTRABASSOON AND PIANO
PREMIERE of piano version September 28, 1993 at St. Xavier University, Chicago; Susan Nigro, contrabassoon, Mark Lindeblad, piano.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
PROGRAM NOTES
In
October 1988, contrabassoonist Norman Spielberg asked me to compose a concerto
for contrabassoon and small orchestra, to be premiered by the Concerto Soloists
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. He
asked that it highlight the lyrical side of the contrabassoon rather than the
grotesque effects often linked to this instrument. Being a bass clarinetist myself, I was very sympathetic to this request! The Concerto was composed
mostly between Summer 1990 and January 1991, commissioned by the Concerto
Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia through the generous assistance of the
Presser Foundation. It was
premiered in November 1991 by Norman Spielberg with the Concerto Soloists, with
James Freeman as guest conductor. The
music is in three movements, played without pause.
Concerto
for Contrabassoon is scored
for solo contra with 1 Clarinet, 1 Horn, and Strings.
In addition to the piano
reduction, the concerto is also available in a "Quartet Version" for
Contrabassoon, Clarinet, Horn, and Piano, with the piano playing a reduction of
the string section.
The
Concerto has been received very warmly
by the contrabassoon community and has been performed by ensembles ranging
from the Colorado Symphony to the Federal Police Orchestra of Argentina. The Concerto led the International Contrabassoon Festival to commission
my In A Deep Funk: Dance Set for
Unaccompanied Contrabassoon for its 1997 mandatory competition piece, and it
led Susan Nigro and Burl Lane to commission Sonatina d'Amore for two
contrabassoons.
REVIEWS
"Repertory for the contrabassoon has been significantly enhanced of late by the addition of concertos by Daniel Dorff..."
–MLA Notes (Christopher Weait), December 1993.
"An excellent new concerto... in a very listenable and audience-appealing style. Dorff has written a number of fine compositions and has crafted here an excellent new work for the contrabassoonist."
–The Double Reed (Ron Klimko), Spring 1993.
"(The concert) was jammed with people who were obviously pleased they were there. A local composer with a growing international reputation presented a world premiere that deserved the response the audience gave it.
– Philadelphia Welcomat (Purdom), November 13, 1991.
"This is a work that could effectively introduce the rarely heard solo contrabassoon to audiences of any age or experience. It has the happy characteristic of being easily understood. Performers will appreciate its professionally clear notation and effective orchestration."
–MLA Notes (Christopher Weait), March 1995.
"I'm sure all contrabassoon players will treasure this addition to their ... repertoire."
–Sol Schoenbach, former principal Bassoon, Philadelphia Orchestra
|
Manufacturer Bernt Moosman fixing Roger
Soren's
contrabassoon with Crazy Glue, just before Roger's
performance of the Dorff Concerto at
the 2010 IDRS convention. |
