Composer

:

Lou Harrison

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1981 - 1982

First Performance

:

May 10, 1982

Average_duration

:

22:53

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

The Double Concerto is a composition for violin, cello, and gamelan orchestra by American composer Lou Harrison. It was composed in 1981 and premiered on May 22, 1982, by the American Gamelan Institute in San Francisco. The Double Concerto consists of three movements. The first movement, marked "Moderato," begins with a slow, lyrical melody played by the violin and cello. The gamelan orchestra enters with a gentle accompaniment, featuring the metallic sounds of the gongs and metallophones. The movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet coda. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is a lively dance in a fast tempo. The gamelan orchestra provides a rhythmic foundation for the violin and cello to play virtuosic solos. The movement features intricate interplay between the soloists and the gamelan orchestra, with the soloists occasionally imitating the gamelan instruments. The final movement, marked "Adagio," is a slow, meditative piece. The violin and cello play a mournful melody over a sparse accompaniment from the gamelan orchestra. The movement gradually builds in intensity before reaching a climax and then subsiding into a quiet coda. The Double Concerto is characterized by Harrison's unique blend of Western classical music and traditional Indonesian gamelan music. The gamelan orchestra provides a rich, shimmering backdrop for the soloists, and the use of just intonation tuning gives the music a distinctive, otherworldly quality. The Double Concerto is also notable for its use of rhythmic complexity and intricate interplay between the soloists and the gamelan orchestra. Overall, the Double Concerto is a beautiful and innovative work that showcases Harrison's mastery of both Western and Indonesian musical traditions.

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