09C241EA-7B8F-4001-9820-3C78B49607E6
| ID | 09C241EA-7B8F-4001-9820-3C78B49607E6 |
|---|---|
| Titlecode | R00985 |
| Title Name | The Philosopher's Stone for Solo Violin and Nine Players |
| Marketing Copy | (not set) |
| Instrumentation | Violin Solo: 1(d Picc, AFl), 1(d EH), 1(d BCl), 1(d Susp Cym): 0.0.0.0: Perc(2).Pno: Cello, Double Bass |
| Commission | Commissioned by the Orchestra of Our Time with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts |
| Dedication | (not set) |
| Program Notes | THE PHILOSOPHER+S STONE, for solo violin and chamber ensemble, was written under a Fellowship/Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Finished in 1980, the premiere was given by Eric Rosenblith in 1982. Stock has said of the piece: +In the medieval world of alchemy, scholars sought the philosopher+s stone, which would transform base metals into gold. In reality, of course, it was the human soul they sought to transform.+ This colorful fantasia begins with the first two major motives-a pair of sevenths, ascending and descending in the solo violin-and a shimmering texture which seems to transport us back to medieval times. The piece then proceeds in a large arch-form. A lyrical, rather contemplative moment includes the violin+s theme (the pair of sevenths) and the first recognizable presentation of the second tune in a clarinet solo. This theme is an expansive ascent through the clarinet+s different registral colors-three rising sevenths, followed by a fifth. A variety of textures evolve: a pizzicato ostinato (the ostinato is in ninths, a sort of inversion of the seventh) is followed by a freer aleatoric section in which the timeless shimmering from the opening reappears. The ninths briefly return to serve as a new point of departure and the activity becomes increasingly aggressive, rhythmic, and percussive. A low, rumbling figure topped with tinkling bells and ringing chimes provides an +eye in the storm.+ The material then appears in reversed order up to the expansive cadenza. Various transformations have occured in the second half of the arch (the ostinato ninths become sevenths, the rumbling manifests itself as trills), but it is the broad cadenza which projects the transformations that have taken place within the violin+s voice (or even its soul?) during its journey. A +coda+ is introduced by murmuring oscillations, recalling once more the low, rumbling motive. Mysterious, dark chords in the piano create, with the percussionists+ help, the murky, cloud-filled atmosphere which closes the piece, shrouded in the speckled dust of a magic spell. -Peter Gilbert, appeared in CIM program (11/98) |
| Title Brand | 2 |
| Year Composed | 1980 |
| Copyright Number | (not set) |
| Copyright Year | (not set) |
| Duration | 16 |
| Ensemble Size | 9 |
| Date Created | 2008-10-31 20:31:03.000000 |
| Date Updated | 2025-09-30 20:31:03 |
| Inhouse Note | (not set) |
| Bsc Code | (not set) |
| Text Author | (not set) |
| Premier Performance Memo | (not set) |
| Recording Credits | (not set) |
| Review | "No one presents enjoyable evenings of new music like David Stock. . . . Stock's THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE was more impressive than ever before, surely due in part to the persuasive advocacy of Andres Cardenes as violin soloist. The humanity Cardenes, the concert master of the Pittsburgh Symphony, achieved from his very first notes made the struggle an appealing message." -- Mark Kanny, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE |
| Awards | (not set) |
| Title Category | 2 |
| Title Movements | (not set) |
| Title Grade | (not set) |
| Set Series ID | (not set) |
| Title Instrument Category Text | Large Chamber Ensemble |
| Title Sub Category Text | (not set) |
| Title Sub Category | 93 |
| Title Instrument Header | 25 |
| Title Grade Text | (not set) |
| Clean Url | the-philosophers-stone-for-solo-violin-and-nine-players-r00985 |