Mason: Concerto for Violin and Small Ensemble

Description

INSTRUMENTATION

flute, clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), trombone, tuba, multipercussion (china cymbal, concert bass drum, hi-hat, kick drum, splash cymbal, tam-tam, tambourine, toms, triangle), violin solo, cello, double bass

​PREMIERE

Original version premiere: March 21, 2018 at TCU by violinist Kirill Raskolenko and the composer conducting

Revised version premiere: February 26, 2021 by Christine Wu, violin; MSM Camerata Nova; Kyle Ritenauer, conductor

​PROGRAM NOTE

Anxiety resides in the life of every college student for various reasons. At the time I was composing this concerto, I was facing uncertainty about the future and looking forward. The entire first part sums up these feelings perfectly; the atonal violin line is the feeling of depression, with comments from the ensemble about what's coming next. Eventually, we get to the second section which reminds us to enjoy the better and fun things in life. Amusing and Stravinsky-esque in nature, it features both the soloist and ensemble engaged in lighthearted melodic interplay, which serves as an optimistic look to the first part.

This concerto was written especially for the soloist Kirill Raskolenko and is also dedicated to him.

— Quinn Mason