Petroushskates

Petroushskates is a chamber music composition by the American composer Joan Tower. The work was composed in 1980 for the tenth anniversary of the Da Capo Chamber Players.[1][2]

Composition

Petroushskates is composed in one short movement and has a duration of roughly five minutes. The work was partially inspired by "The Shrovetide Fair" scene from Igor Stravinsky's ballet Petrushka. The work was also inspired by the movements of ice skating, about which Tower wrote in the score program note, "While watching the figure skating event at the recent winter Olympics, I became fascinated with the way the curving, twirling, and jumping figure are woven around a singular continuous flowing action. Combining these two ideas creates a kind of carnival on ice – a possible subtitle for this piece." The title is thus an amalgam of "Petrushka" and "skates."[1][3]

Instrumentation

The work is scored for a quintet comprising flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.[1]

Reception

John Henken of the Los Angeles Times praised the work, writing, "Joan Tower's Petroushskates [...] relies on ostinatos and a recycled harmonic and motivic framework, here of specific identity. But her quintet for mixed ensemble has great motor energy and effectively transmutes its materials into some vivacious chamber pop."[4] It was also praised by Gramophone, which said of the piece, "Petroushskates (1980) has long been a calling-card for Joan Tower, but its synthesis of minimalist figuration with a harmonic style owing more to Stravinsky than just surface allusions is an engaging one."[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tower, Joan (1980). "Petroushskates". G. Schirmer Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ Oestreich, James R. (September 15, 1998). "MUSIC REVIEW; Composer's Birthday Tribute". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ Sawyier, Tim (April 21, 2015). "Picosa explores the music of Augusta Read Thomas". Chicago Classical Review. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Henken, John (May 28, 1990). "Music Review : E.A.R. Unit in Pacific Rim Festival Prelude at CSLA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Thirteen Ways: A distinctive début album from a praise-worthy contemporary ensemble". Gramophone. 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
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