Catalogue

Double Concerto

Program Note:

As my residency with the Louisville Orchestra came to a close last year, I was approached with the idea of composing a new work for violin, cello, and orchestra. The piece was to be commemorative and feature two principal players in the orchestra: Gabe Lefkowitz (violin) and Nick Finch (cello). I was also told that my piece would be paired with Ellen Zwilich’s Double Concerto commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra in 1991.

I was initially daunted by the task of composing a work that features two instruments I do not play. At the same time, I was honored to be included in the orchestra’s rich history of commissioning new music and knew that with some score study and back and forth with Gabe and Nick, it would be an exciting challenge. I also knew I wanted to compose a piece that showcased both the youthful spirit and mature sensitivity of the soloists and the ensemble.

In order to feature these different aspects, I decided to break the piece up into six continuous movements of various lengths. The work begins with a spark and propels into a consistent groove. The soloists fly over and collide with the orchestra until they reach a breaking point. The opening material is then transformed into an arching melody that peaks and slides its way back into pulse, plummeting towards the finale.

Typically, when I set out to compose a piece, I start with some sort of programmatic element. Recently, those elements have included things such as historic narratives, religious principals, or personal stories. However, in this case, rather than having a specific story in mind, I allowed the music to be its own narrative. I decided to keep the title simple: Double Concerto as a way of honoring Zwilich’s work and to allow the audience to create their own story as they listen.