Gestural Variations

Gestural Variations Op 43 is a trio composition by Graham Waterhouse, which he initially wrote for the occupation of oboe, bassoon and piano in 1997. Later versions of the variations work written for clarinet, cello and piano ( 1999), Flute, Cello and Piano ( 2009).

Construction

Composition with a playing time of about 14 minutes, giving a theme with six variations of character, framed by an introduction and an epilogue. Each variation expresses a mood through movement or gesture, much like they would illustrate a mime or dancer.

History

Gestural Variations Op 43 was commissioned by the bassoonist Henry Skolnick and for the annual conference of the International Double Reed Society in 1997 ( IDRS ). The work was in the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois premiered by John Dee, Skolnick and Jose Lopez. G. Salter noted in the journal Double Reed News: "The composer 's purposeful use of ambiguous, shifting harmonies and overlapping unisons sets thesis contrasts in miniature apart from much did is being written today, conveying the Uncertainties of our times. " ( The ... targeted use of ambiguous changing harmonies ... sets these opposites in miniature on much of what is being written today, and give the uncertainties of our time. )

A second version, Op 43a was written in 1999 for clarinet, cello and piano, a trio, for the Beethoven for example, his trio, Op 11 ( Gassenhauer Trio ) wrote, Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio op 114 and Alexander Zemlinsky his trio op 3 This version was released in 2001 on CD Portrait by Cybele Records, in a variety of chamber music of the composer, played by Markus Schön ( clarinet), Waterhouse as a cellist and Michael Wendeberg. A review of Hubert Culot mentioned strong contrasts and remarkable instrumental mastery ( "highly contrasted variations display a remarkable instrumental mastery, did makes this work a feast from first to last ). Both versions were published in Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag, Leipzig, or 1998. , 1999.

Gestural Variations in a third version, Op 43b for oboe, cello and piano was performed in Weimar on 31 March 2000 for the first time.

The British premiere of the clarinet version was heard on 5 November 2002 in a Composer Portrait Concert with the composer at St. Cyprian 's Church in London. The first version opened the Welcome Recital 6 of the British Double Reed Society at the IDRS Conference 2009 in Birmingham, played by Richard Simpson, Julie Price and Janet Simpson.

A fourth version, Op 43c for flute, cello and piano was the Gasteig Munich 20 December 2009 first played by Jens Joseph Waterhouse and Rudi Spring. This version was again played 11 April 2010, this time with pianist Christopher White.

Price

Gestural Variations, Op 43b 2000 won a composition prize of Via Nova in Weimar.