Stratosphere (Score)

For Chamber Orchestra (Flute Oboe Cor Anglais Basson Horn in F Trumpet in C Strings: [5.4.3.2.1])Composer's Programme Note:Points of View is a work about the different musical elements which arepersonified by soloists from the orchestra all unifying at the end in a passionateclimax.The first section ‘Mysterious’ features a solo horn and also establishes tonality [Bflat] texture and harmony. The harmonies are often chordal 6-note clusters andthey are an important binding articulating and textual element throughout thework.A solo trumpet joins the solo horn and as the chordal clusters disappearintothe stratosphere initiates the rhythm of a light-hearted scherzo ‘Lively’. Thetrumpet’s rhythmic figure is echoed and developed by the winds.The solo oboe and cor anglais now introduce a very lyrical melody in fallingthirds ‘Sensuous’. The chordal clusters as well as the trumpet’s rhythmic figureeventually reappear to accompany this melodic theme and then the violinspassionately respond by taking it over ‘Passionato’. All the elements thusunifying to culminate in the coda.These elements could also perhaps be described in non-musical terms as‘imagination’ [solo horn] ‘action’ [solo trumpet] ‘emotion’ [solo oboe and coranglais] which eventually combine in the climax [violins].

To see the summer sky for Violin and Viola falls into four movements. The first movement opens with the two instruments sounding almost as one playing very high glassy harmonics. Gradually an expressive viola solo emerges withboth instruments descending to their lower ranges. A livelier quasi scherzando solo for violin accompanied by viola pedal notes leads to a chorale like passage the violin at the top of its range whilst the viola is at itslowest. The movement ends with the two instruments coming together once again on a unison Bb and fades away almost as it has begun but this time in the husky lower registers.The second movement is much faster and openswith a downward flurry for both instruments. A continuous pizzicato line for viola is interrupted by more violent passages in the violin. The two instruments come together in a dance-like passage before the roles are reversed.Finally an ecstatic melody surfaces in the viola and is later continued in the violin before the movement closes with the spiky figures of its opening the two instruments ending in unison.The third movement encompasses isthe most delicate and still music of the piece. After a very tranquil opening an expressive violin melody is accompanied by a gentle rocking figure in the viola. Tentative at first intensity and speed gather until the violinreaches stratospheric heights. Both of the instruments play at the extremes of their registers before moving to common ground for a more lively textural passage. This is followed by a passionate reminder of the movement’s opening gradually fading away to nothing.The piece ends with a Moto Perpetuo. The instruments begin by dovetailing a single line which develops into two strands before a more violent section appears punctuated by strident doublestops. Both instruments have slightly manic solo episodes before the movement quickly dies away in the single line of its opening