Curtain Tune from a Ground (2026)
for chamber orchestra
2 fl; 2 ob; 2 cl; 2 bsn
2 hn; 2 tpt
timp; perc
strings
Duration: c. 6 minutes
Programme note:
Curtain Tune on a Ground is a reworking of the opening music from BreakBeats, a multimedia event written in 2006. Originally titled 12-Bar Ground, the piece was written for piano, percussion, DJ and breakdancers. This new version is scored for chamber orchestra.
A ‘curtain tune’ is theatrical music played to accompany the raising or lowering of a stage curtain, and historically the term was also used for an overture. A ground, or ground bass, is a short, repeating melodic phrase in the bass that provides the foundation for an entire composition.
The title also pays homage to the Curtain Tunes of the British Baroque composers Matthew Locke and Henry Purcell.
Charlie Barber, September 2026
Score
Audio
Orchestral parts
Orchestral parts available at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
Alternatively, orchestral parts can be downloaded via the ZIP file below
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