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Eolian (2)

oktober 23, 2022

If your diary tells you you have to play Debussy or Ravel, one knows what to expect; you can estimate the preparation time you need, this music is part of your standard repertoire, it rings in your ear, it’s chiselled into your memory and flows through your body.
With a new work, none of these parameters are present. The writing style is unknown to your ears and fingers, the musical comptability unknown.
Gordon’s solo work for harp, Jeux de Création, was unpublished at this time, but fortunately I was given a copy ‘for my eyes only’ so I could  get acquainted with the way he writes for harp and gain insight into how he approaches the instrument.

14.6.2021

‘Dear Geoffrey,

Apology for not reacting sooner on your score!

I immediately read it last Tuesday, but was kept away from my email duties by a lot of harping 🙂

 It is absolutely wonderful. Like you describe yourself it is such a nice combination of familiar sounds of the Debussy idiom and todays influences and you do not compromise on the possibilities of the harp in technique or sound. Looking forward to Anne-Sophie Bertrand’s recording, which will be amazing, I am sure.

And now even more eager to discover the concerto!

Have a wonderful day, Eline’

 

Every composer is inspired in a different way; even if it is a commissioned composition, a source is needed. In Gordon’s case, that source is a poem: The Eolian harp by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His imagination turns it into his own story which resulted in Eolian:

…..A new, dramatic and virtuosic concerto in three movements for harp and orchestra, Eolian draws title and inspiration from the well-known poem The Eolian Harp (1795) by English Romantic poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). The concerto, referencing the Aeolian harp (in fact a small lute-like instrument which creates melodious music when the wind blows across its strings), channels the beauty and intensity of expression which Coleridge brings to his deeply expressive and personal text. Allegorically, the harp symbolizes the poet and the wind symbolizes God’s breath – the poem contemplates man’s relationship with nature and the divine. Both the order and chaos found in nature abound here as the orchestra’s palette evokes sensual pleasure, divine force and staggering creative power, through Gordon’s lyrical and luminous writing. A riveting and intense first movement: “A light in sound, a sound-like power in light, Rhythm in all thought, and joyance everywhere—”. The exquisite slow second movement, contemplative, hushed and suspended: “Where the breeze warbles, and the mute still air Is Music slumbering on her instrument…”, “The sunbeams dance, like diamonds, on the main…”. The apogee of nature’s beauty represented as the purest form of allure and joy in the final movement: “Bubbles that glitter as they rise and break On vain Philosophy’s aye-babbling spring…”. Gordon’s Eolian marks an outstanding addition to the harp repertoire and to 21st century orchestral music more generally……(synopsis by Geoffrey Gordon)

 

1.8.2021

‘Dear Geoffrey, 

I am a little bit in holiday mode 🙂 

I ‘ve read your synopsis and like it very much!

First of all, I always find it interesting when new art is based on great works of the past. So the inspiration out of a poem will certainly evoke some inspiration for me as well!

For my blog and recordings, I did a lot of reading about the harp and Japanese composers. The fact that the harp is so close to nature and traditional instruments (probably also because we have direct contact with our strings, not like a pianist fe) is definitely one of the reasons these composers are inspired by the harp.

It makes me happy to read , that you too will search within this very heart of the instrument, exploring the richness which is naturally there.

Have you already started writing? Very curious! And eager to start reading and exploring! 

Groetjes(which is Dutch for cheers:)Eline’

 

‘Dear Eline,

Thanks for your message – so good to hear from you!  I am delighted that you like the brief on the concerto.

(And holiday mode is always a good thing!)

Your observations about the harp are really interesting – the idea of having direct contact with the strings is fascinating. I am very much looking forward to this experience!

I have not started writing yet…

Maybe it is holiday mode everywhere right now 😉

Cheers (this is English for Groetjes 🙂 )’

 

to be continued…….




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