Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
Scored for: marimba and string orchestra. Also available for marimba and piano. Duration: 12 min. Premiere: 4/3/05, The Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Karl Middleman, artistic director, with Angela Zator Nelson, marimba, Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany, Philadelphia, PA Commissioned by: The Philadelphia Classical Symphony Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
“Andrea Clearfield goes from strength to strength. Her Concertino for Marimba and Strings is a landmark, a brilliant addition to the marimba repertoire. She has succeeded in writing a showpiece brimming with originality, color and flair. Our audiences jumped to their feet as though charged by an electric current. I can’t wait to perform it again!”
–Karl Middleman, Artistic Director, Philadelphia Classical Symphony
REVIEW
“Best moments belonged to Clearfield’s Concertino for Marimba and String Orchestra (2004)…recalling mid-20th century neo-classics such as Stravinsky’s chic, poised ballet Orpheus. Initially, the rhythmic possibilities of the marimba (played with masterful extroversion by Zator) were mirrored by the orchestra – no easy task – though 2001′s founder/director James Freeman placed greater emphasis on the charming, smoothly sailing orchestral passages, as well as spots where the orchestra is the soloist’s plush scenic backdrop”.
-David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 8, 2014
…A thoroughly convincing piece…inventive…entrancing.”
-David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 5, 2005
LISTEN
LISTEN
PROGRAM NOTE
CONCERTINO FOR MARIMBA AND STRING ORCHESTRA
This work was commissioned and premiered by the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Karl Middleman, Artistic Director with virtuoso marimbist Angela Zator Nelson. Ms. Nelson is a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra percussion section and the pieces was composed to feature Ms. Nelson’s exceptional technique and musical expressiveness as well as explore some of the many colors of this lesser known solo instrument; sounds ranging from brilliant and dynamic to delicate, evocative and mysterious.
The Concertino is in a large ABA form, with energetic, rhythmic material framing slower and more introspective music. In the center of the work is a lyrical duet between the violin and the marimba, following and preceding two cadenzas for the soloist, one rhapsodic and the other mercurial and precise. An orchestral transition leads back to the return of the opening thematic ideas which are varied and developed, interspersed with recollections of earlier motivic elements, culminating in an exuberant coda that propels the work to its close.
Concertino for Marimba and String Orchestra
Angela Zator Nelson
Scored for: marimba and string orchestra. Also available for marimba and piano.
Duration: 12 min.
Premiere: 4/3/05, The Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Karl Middleman, artistic director, with Angela Zator Nelson, marimba, Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany, Philadelphia, PA
Commissioned by: The Philadelphia Classical Symphony
Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
See preview score pages: CONCERTINO FOR MARIMBA SCORE EXCERPTS (PDF)
QUOTE
“Andrea Clearfield goes from strength to strength. Her Concertino for Marimba and Strings is a landmark, a brilliant addition to the marimba repertoire. She has succeeded in writing a showpiece brimming with originality, color and flair. Our audiences jumped to their feet as though charged by an electric current. I can’t wait to perform it again!”
–Karl Middleman, Artistic Director, Philadelphia Classical Symphony
REVIEW
“Best moments belonged to Clearfield’s Concertino for Marimba and String Orchestra (2004)…recalling mid-20th century neo-classics such as Stravinsky’s chic, poised ballet Orpheus. Initially, the rhythmic possibilities of the marimba (played with masterful extroversion by Zator) were mirrored by the orchestra – no easy task – though 2001′s founder/director James Freeman placed greater emphasis on the charming, smoothly sailing orchestral passages, as well as spots where the orchestra is the soloist’s plush scenic backdrop”.
-David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 8, 2014
…A thoroughly convincing piece…inventive…entrancing.”
-David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 5, 2005
LISTEN
LISTEN
PROGRAM NOTE
CONCERTINO FOR MARIMBA AND STRING ORCHESTRA
This work was commissioned and premiered by the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Karl Middleman, Artistic Director with virtuoso marimbist Angela Zator Nelson. Ms. Nelson is a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra percussion section and the pieces was composed to feature Ms. Nelson’s exceptional technique and musical expressiveness as well as explore some of the many colors of this lesser known solo instrument; sounds ranging from brilliant and dynamic to delicate, evocative and mysterious.
The Concertino is in a large ABA form, with energetic, rhythmic material framing slower and more introspective music. In the center of the work is a lyrical duet between the violin and the marimba, following and preceding two cadenzas for the soloist, one rhapsodic and the other mercurial and precise. An orchestral transition leads back to the return of the opening thematic ideas which are varied and developed, interspersed with recollections of earlier motivic elements, culminating in an exuberant coda that propels the work to its close.