Improvvisato Contrasto

Alex Orfaly

General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 11:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan
Cost: Score and Parts - $15.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Timpani

Program Notes

Improvvisato Contrasto is similar to my Rhapsody No. 2 in that it is intended to be performed as if being improvised. I grew up improvising on percussion and it is very much a part of my composition style today. Rhapsody No. 2 (a more aggressive piece in general) forms an arc and this piece is through composed and uses more subtle changes of color and tempo to find its expression.

Being a timpanist by trade, it is hard to not let some symphonic references find their way into my compositions. Two such references are found at the beginning of this piece. The swelling major second Roll found in the opening bars reminds me of Debussy's La Mer. Even though it might not be very obvious at first, the main theme presented in bars 7-15 reminds me of Puccini's Madame Butterfly. (Puccini is my favorite opera composer.)

Commercial Discography

Online Recordings

http://c-alanpublications.com/improvvisato-contrasto/

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

A Christmas Overture - 12 - 16 Players
The Big Bob Special - Xylophone, Mallet Quartet
Big Bob's Return - Xylophone Duet, Mallet Quartet
Copper Wire - Timpani, Electronics
Divertissement - Timpani, Percussion Quartet
Fanfares No. 1 and No. 2 for Timpani - Timpani
Five Intermediate Pieces for Timpani - Timpani
Improvvisato Contrasto - Timpani
Mean Man's March - Xylophone, Mallet Quintet
Prelude 1.5 for Timpani - Timpani
Rhapsody No. 1 for Timpani - Timpani, Percussion Trio
Rhapsody No. 2 for Timpani - Timpani
Structure Set - Percussion Sextet
Tanc Szervusz - Xylophone Duet, Mallet Quintet