| Carillons | |
|---|---|
| Concertino by Grace Williams | |
| Composed | 1965 (1973) |
| Published | Curiad, Caernarfon |
| Recorded | |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 1 March 1967 (1967-03-01) |
| Conductor | Rae Jenkins |
| Performers | BBC Welsh Orchestra, Philip Jones (oboe) |
Carillons was composed by Grace Williams for oboe and symphony orchestra (but without woodwind instruments) in 1965 in response to a request from the BBC for a light, entertaining piece. Carillons originally included three movements but Williams revised the work in 1973, adding a fourth movement.
Composition history
Grace Williams composed Carillons in 1965 from a commission by the BBC in Wales, who requested "something light-weight and entertaining" for the programme Auditorium. By omitting the usual orchestral woodwind section and making use of high-pitched percussion (triangle, glockenspiel, celesta and tubular bells) Williams created a distinctive orchestral colour with bell-like sounds which inspired the title of the work (A carillon is musical instrument including a number of bells usually played with a keyboard, and originally from the French for bells or chimes).
Although completed in 1965 the premier was postponed to coincide with the official opening of the BBC's new studios at Llandaff on St David's Day, 1967. The work was premiered by Philip Jones (oboe) with the BBC Welsh Orchestra conducted by Rae Jenkins.
Music
The work is composed for solo oboe and orchestra and comprises four movements:
- Moderato con moto
- Allegretto alla pavana
- Lento rapsodico
- Allegro agitato
The third movement was added in 1973 and is in the style of an unaccompanied cadenza which adds to the soloistic display of the piece. The piece is scored for solo oboe, 2 french horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, percussion (including triangle, glockenspiel, celesta and tubular bells), harp, and strings (violins, violas, cellos, and double-bass).
Publication
Carillons has been published by Curiad, Caernarfon.
Recordings
Carillons was recorded by Anthony Camden (oboe) with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Atherton in 1974 (HMV ASD3006), and re-issued in 1995 (Lyrita SRCD323). The recording was one of a series of recordings of Williams' works in the 1970s to promote her work, made with the help of the Welsh Arts Council.
References
- ^ Boyd, Malcolm (1980). Grace Williams. Composers of Wales. Vol. 4 (1st ed.). Cardiff: University of Wales Press, on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council. pp. 48–9. ISBN 0-7083-0762-0. OCLC 7547501.
- Cotterill, Graeme James (12 January 2012a). Music in the Blood & Poetry in the Soul? (National identity in the life and music of Grace Williams) (PDF). eBangor – A digital repository of Bangor University's electronic output (PhD). Bangor: University of Wales. p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Cotterill, Graeme James (2012). A catalogue of the works of Grace Williams (PDF). eBangor – A digital repository of Bangor University's electronic output (PhD). Bangor: University of Wales. p. 31. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Boyd, Malcolm (1995). "Carillons". Grace Williams (CD booklet). Burnham, Buckinghamshire: Lyrita. OCLC 883978208. UPC: 502092603234.
- "Orchestral Music". Curiad. Talysarn, Caernarfon. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- Cotterill 2012, p. 32.