Score
Symphony No. 2 : double planet / Stuart Greenbaum.
Library shelf no. Q 784.2/GRE 10 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
This symphony is concerned with miniaturisation, self-similarity
and transformation. The shorter preview movements are
'fast-forward' representations of the two longer movements which
themselves respond to pictures by the Dutch graphic artist, M.C.
Escher whose work in general addresses these issues.
Double Planet (1949) shows two
regular tetrahedrons intersecting as if they were one world. They
are in fact two quite separate worlds: one a jungle with trees,
mountains and dinosaurs, and the other a construction of palaces
and bridges occupied by humans. It's a strange, uneasy
proposition that (over half a century later) might be interpreted
as humans being out of touch with the natural environment -
creating for themselves an ivory tower from which they can view
the jungle at a safe distance.
Day and Night (1938) is also symmetrical in design. The
flock of birds that fly over the rural city and farmlands
magically transform in direction (backwards & forwards),
colour (black & white) and time (day and night).
The work was commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and
is dedicated to my mother, Elizabeth Scarlett - herself a pianist
and scholar with a PhD in Poulenc and a constant source of
musical inspiration and heritage to me.
Work Details
Year: 2010
Instrumentation: Flute (doubling piccolo), oboe (doubling cor anglais), clarinet in B flat, bassoon (doubling contra-bassoon), trumpet in C (doubling flugel horn), 2 trombones, percussion (3 players), harp, strings (2.2.2.2.1) Note: string section may be expanded
Duration: 17 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Contents note: i) Preview #1 (2 min.) -- ii) Double Planet (8 min.) -- iii) Preview #2 (1 min.) -- iv) Day and Night (4 min.).
Dedication note: Dedicated to Elizabeth Scarlett
Commission note: Commissioned by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
First performance: by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Up Close and Musical (Loreto Mandeville Hall) on 29 Mar 2011
Analysis
Resonate article: Double Planet - a VCE music resource by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra by Bronwyn Lobb
Videos
Symphony No. 2 : double planet |
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Symphonies
- In the form/style of: Post-minimalism
Performances of this work
23 Mar 2012: at MSO (St Catherine's School). Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly.
22 Mar 2012: at MSO (Ballarat Grammar). Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly.
21 Mar 2012: at MSO (Huntingtower School). Featuring Brett Kelly, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
20 Mar 2012: at MSO (Footscray City College). Featuring Brett Kelly, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
30 Mar 2011: at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Up Close and Musical (Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS), Keilor Campus). Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly.
1 Apr 2011: at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Up Close and Musical (Yarra Valley Grammar School). Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brett Kelly.
31 Mar 2011: at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Up Close and Musical (Caulfield Grammar School). Featuring Brett Kelly, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
29 Mar 2011: at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Up Close and Musical (Loreto Mandeville Hall). Featuring Brett Kelly, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
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