Pursuit Of Liberty

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass — Pursuit of Liberty is a piece for string orchestra commissioned by the Stringendo Orchestral Ensemble in Paris, France under the direction of Jean Thorel. Mr. Thorel asked me to compose this piece as part of a celebration of the French Revolution. His only request was to use a folk song from that time period as the basis for the piece. “Ah! Ca Ira” by Gervais Couperin from 1790 is the folk song I chose for this setting.The opening music contains fragments of the folk song’s melody. I also utilize this phrase as a transitional element between sections in the piece. It helps to integrate an original melody that I employ as counterpoint to the “Ah! Ca Ira” melody. The folk song melody first appears in its complete form at m. 14. Exposition and development follows until m. 37, which signals a transition to an original melody of mine. The eighth note pulse is punctuated by accents and sixteenth note interjections. Please bring those out of the texture throughout this section. Fragments of the folk song melody begin to appear in each of the sections of the ensemble which functions as an extended build up to a main statement of my original melody at m. 62. The folk song melody rejoins the setting in the upper strings at m. 70. This plays concurrently with the original melody in the lower strings. At m. 80, the melodies are reversed in the ensemble to a dramatic effect. The opening music returns at m. 84 to provide momentum to the rousing chords at m. 93 and subsequent conclusion. Vivre la Liberté! A tour de force string orchestra work by Sean O’Loughlin, Pursuit of Liberty is well worth the effort for your group, delving into the sound of the American frontier; a flowing tapestry of timbres and textures.

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