Listen & tracks
5 works · 46:55
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Horn ConcertoAndrew Blyth 3 movements28:16
- 1 i. Allegro 8:31
- 2 ii. Slow 8:38
- 3 iii. Allegro 11:07
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4 A long time ago Andrew Blyth 5:23
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5 Reflection Andrew Blyth 3:15
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6 Serenity Andrew Blyth 4:29
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7 Christmas song Andrew Blyth 5:32
The concerto’s outer Allegro movements drive clear melodic lines with irregular motoric rhythms in 7/8 and 11/8. The reflective central slow movement began as an improvisation and later grew into the full work.
The remaining pieces were not written specifically for horn. They come from a flexible set of short works that can be adapted for any instrument, ranging from song-like invention to quiet seasonal mood.
In the artist’s words
The Horn Concerto of 2001 was my second foray into writing an extended concert work for a solo instrument. As with many of my works, the music is upbeat and dominated by major chord harmonies and clear melodic lines. This is evident in the two outer Allegro movements where the thematic ideas are also propelled along by irregular motoric rhythms in 7/8 and 11/8. Surprisingly, then the idea of writing a concerto for French horn grew out of the central slow movement. This is a reflective and occasionally sombre movement which began life as an improvisation some years earlier. I decided later that this improvisation could be extended into a more fully developed orchestral movement and from that the Horn Concerto grew.
The shorter works on the CD were mostly not written with the French Horn in mind but were taken from a growing collection of shorter pieces that can be adapted for any instrument.
A long time ago is a song that just came to me one afternoon (yes, in the shower) and has had various instrumental and vocal arrangements.
Christmas song derives its title from having been written one Christmas but has no religious or festive significance. It too began life as an improvisation recorded many years earlier.
Serenity evokes the stillness of a warm summer evening, while Reflection is the legacy of a quiet winter afternoon.
Artists
Geoff Viking Lierse
french horn
As one of Australia's most accomplished symphonic and chamber musicians, Geoff Viking Lierse can usually be heard raising the roofs of concert halls around the globe.
Andrew Blyth
virtual orchestra
Andrew Blyth (1958–2010) was an Australian composer whose music deliberately crossed classical and popular styles, with strong melodies, clear harmonies and rhythmic vitality realised through digital technology.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Andrew Blyth · virtual orchestra
- Geoff Viking Lierse · french horn
Technical credits
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Recording Engineer
Vaughan McAlley
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Credit
Benjamin Thomas
Details
- List price
- $20.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 46 minutes 55 seconds
- Release date
- 2009
- Category
- Classical
- Musical work copyright
- © 2009 Andrew Blyth
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 2009 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 403
- EAN
- 9314574040326
More to explore
Quiet Place
Each of the eleven tracks is a song without words. Written over a number of years, these pieces by Andrew Blyth share a concern for simplicity and directness of expression throughout the set.
Sonatas for Oboe and Violin
The two sonatas began as traditional works with piano. The Oboe Sonata, written for teaching colleague Caroline O'Donnell, is a first sonata; here it is played by her sister Annabelle.
Guitar Concerto
This recording looks toward a twenty-first-century classical aesthetic, deliberately crossing the line between concert music and popular song so that new work can again speak plainly to listeners and performers.