Description
Concerto for Piano and orchestra by James M. Stephenson for Jeffrey Biegel Co-commissioned by the New Hampshire Music Festival and the Traverse Symphony Premiered on July 15, 2022 by Jeffrey Biegel and the New Hampshire Music Festival, Paul Polivnick conducting duration: c. 25′ instrumentation: solo piano, piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, Bass clarinet, 2 bassoons horn 1-2, C trumpet, trombone, Bass trombone, tuba, timpani, 1 percussion, strings perc. needed: cymbals: suspended, splash, finger, china, hi-hat drums: snare, bass, kick, bongos mallets: marimba, vibes, xylophone other: wood block, wood slab, slap-sticks, triangle, tam-tam I. Alla breve (7:45′) II. Adagio sentimentale (8:32′) III. Exuberant, in one (9:00′)
Notes from the composer:
Set in three movements, this concerto is intended to explore and indulge Jeffrey Biegel’s unique technical abilities, while also creating a platform for his unguarded expression. Once I knew I was to be writing a new concerto for him, I went to hear Jeffrey perform a concerto to be performed nearby, and I knew immediately that I had a true artist on my hands with which to work.
I also wanted to focus on melodic content with this new concerto. The piece is rife with tunes, especially in the outer movements: at times romantic, at times even classic, but always written with sensibility to allow the soloist to imbue the work with their own personal touches. The 2nd movement is more plaintive and moody, as if sitting by a lake; a nod to the New Hampshire Music Festival, where the concerto would be premiered under the baton of my good friend and musical colleague, Paul Polivnick. I would sincerely like to thank Jeffrey Biegel for this opportunity to express myself in such a medium, and also to the New Hampshire Music Festival and Traverse Symphony and their respective directors, Paul Polivnick and Kevin Rhodes, for co-sponsoring the project. ~ Jim Stephenson; November, 2021
Ralph Votapek –
“Thank you for letting me listen to your concerto. You certainly write extremely pianistically…Your rhythms are original, quirky, and unexpected. I am in admiration of your work [and am] hoping your concerto finds its way into the repertoire.”
– Ralph Votapek, 1st Van Cliburn Piano Competition Winner