Recitative + Aria

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Recitative + Aria (1983)                                 

s sax (or cl), vcl, pno, portable organ (or harmonium)

Duration: 4 minutes

Recitative + Aria is the first piece to merge from Barber’s preoccupation with the music of Gluck. In this work, the recitative no longer precedes the aria. Instead, two different recitatives (piano and organ) and two different arias (cello and soprano saxophone) are played simultaneously. The materials and sounds remain the same throughout, but their interaction is such that the perspective in which we view them constantly changes. (Peter Reynolds)

First performed by the New Arts Consort at Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 4 May 1984
with Jeffery Wilson (clarinet), Glyn Perrin (cello), Lucy Wilson (piano), Dominic Hackett (harmonium)

Score

recitative-aria-quartet-1Download

Performances

04.05.84 CARDIFFChapter Theatre
05.05.84CARDIFFChapter Theatre
15.05.84COVENTRYWarwick University Arts Centre
16.05.84HEANORSouth East Derbyshire College
17.05.84BLACKBURNSchool of Art
18.05.84STOCKTONDovecot Arts Centre
20.05.84DURHAMTrevelyan College
21.05.84HULLSpring Street Theatre
22.05.84BARNSLEYNorthern College
23.05.84NOTTINGHAMMidland Group
24.05.84OXFORDMuseum of Modern Art
25.05.84BRISTOLArnolfini
26.05.84LONDONAir Gallery

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