WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

A Musical Joke (Ein Musikalischer Spaß), Divertimento for two horns and strings K. 522 (1787)Originally called ‘’The Village Band,’’ A Musical Joke was intentionally written to be funny, or perhaps to mock mediocre musicians among the composer’s contemporaries. The piece consists of four movements, using forms shared with many other classical divertimenti. Mozart intentionally violates elementary laws of composition, such as creating consecutive fifths and octaves. He also doubles parts without accounting for texture, to create overly intrusive accompaniment in some sections. He uses techniques including the use of asymmetrical phrasing, the use of discords in the French horns (satirising the incompetence of the copyist, or the horn player grabbing the wrong crook) and the use of a whole-tone scale in the high register of the violins, probably in order to imitate the players floundering at the high positions. The final chord of the finale is also notable for the earliest known use of polytonality.It is interesting that this work was written during the month after his father had died (May 28, 1787), along with Don Giovanni and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, both of which are well remembered.Notes by Morwenna Collett

BOHUSLAV MARTINU

La Revue de CuisineTwentieth Century Czech composer, Bohuslav Martinu (1890- 1959) began his musical training in 1897 on the violin and by 1905 was performing as a soloist and leading the Policka String Quartet. His obvious talent and dedication to his craft inspired the local community to raise funds to send Martinu to the Prague Conservatory and upon passing his entrance exam, he was accepted in 1906.With a poor attendance record and continued failure in nearly all studies, including a year with the organ department, it seemed that the formality and structure of such an institution did not compliment Martinu’s ‘artistic temperament.’ However, Prague’s cultural life, with its innovative premiers and rich artistic landscape, most certainly did. It was here that the composer first began writing and by the 1920’s his prolific production of a varied range of musical genres was well under way.Influenced by the brilliance of contemporaries like Dvorák, Janárek, Debussy and Stravinsky, Martinu experimented with such styles as, modernism, renaissance polyphony and jazz, a genre that was fast gaining momentum in the United States. The latter of these, inspired the creation of the ballet La Revue de Cuisine Op.161 (The Kitchen Revue), which was written in 1927. Originally scored for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin, cello and piano, this delightful chamber work boils to the brim with playfulness and suggestive hilarity, as it describes the lustful misadventures of a group of cooking utensils. As the title suggests, La Revue de Cuisine is feast for all of the senses, so get those wooden spoons ready, as this one is sure to cause a stir!

LUCIANO BERIO Opus Number Zoo

Luciano Berio (b.1925) started his career as a pianist, but a hand wound during the Second World War prevented him developing as a professional performer, and he increasingly turned to composition. Opus Number Zoo, written in 1951 shortly after Berio completed his degree in composition in Milan, explores the theatrical aspects of musical performance. Each movement tells a short story, much in the same vein as Stravinsky’s Histoires pour Enfants and Poulenc’s Barbar the Elephant. The narrative in the work was originally recited by the author, Rhoda Levine. However, in the revised version of 1971 as performed on this recording, the words are shared between the players themselves.

Bangalow Festival Chamber Orchestra

Violin - Sophie Rowell, Anne Horton, Michele Walsh, Brendan Joyce, Ben Greaves, Janet Anderson, Sarah Knox ,Natsuko Yoshimoto, Rachel Smith, Melanie O’Sullivan

Viola - Sally Boud, Brett Dean ,Anna Colville

Cello Rachel Johnston Katherine Philp Jon Tooby Charlotte Burbrooke de Vere

Double Bass - Patrick Marchisella, Omar Ali

Oboe - Josh De Graaf, Naomi Eager

Flute - Morwenna Collett

Clarinet/Bassett Horn Paul Dean Alex Roberts

Bassoon Leesa Dean Sarah Ferguson

French Horn Peter Luff Kerry Thomas

Trumpet Yoram Levy Michael Keen

Trombone Jason Redman Liam O’Malley Jamie Kennedy

Timpani Michael Bannon

MOZART A Musical Joke

MARTINU La Revue de Cuisine

BERIO Opus Number Zoo

CD download US$9.75

catalogue | resellers | about | formats | contact | free member downloads | become a member