Symphony no1 - 'The Gloucester Symphony' - Op5 no5
Painting - 'Children's Games' by Adam White
'This work is well-deserving of future performances'
Jill Bacon Glos. Echo
The Gloucester Symphony (Symphony I) was written in response to vandals smashing the stained glass windows of Gloucester Cathedral.
I wanted to turn a destructive act into a creative one.
The work begins with a simple motif, based on an augmented fourth played on solo clarinet. This represents the first stone thrown. This theme is much developmed throughout the symphony.
The music also represents a journey through time, from Glevum (the Roman garrison) to today’s Gloucester with its frenetic traffic and busy streets.
The ‘Cathedral theme’ appears several times as big, powerful, uplifting parallel chords. The River Severn flows steadily onwards flooding its banks at times but the choir and bells that sing out at the very end of the piece recall a distant memory of the 6th Century chant Christe Redemptor Omnium.
Finally the Cathedral regains its dignity which was never truly lost.
Duration
52 minutes in four movements
- Introduction
- Scherzo & Fugue
- Adagio
- Finale
Scoring
pic, 2fl (2nd doubles alto), 2 Ob, C.A., 2Cl in Bb, B. Cl, 2Bsn, C.Bsn, 4Hns, 3tpts, 2ten trb, b.trb, tba, 4 percussion (including piano and celeste), timps, harp, church organ, strings, 3 handbell ringers and SATB semi-chorus
1st performance
June 7th, 2008 in Gloucester Cathedral with the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra - conductor Mark Finch
Next: The Cheltenham Symphony