DIVERSIONS FOR MARIMBA AND ORCHESTRA op.439 (September 1991)

A transcription of 'Diversions for cello and orchestra'
Published by: Highbridge Music Ltd
Commissioned by: Evelyn Glennie/The East of England Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2(=picc).2.2.2-2220-timp-perc(1):sus.cym/xyl/SD/tgl/cyms-pno-strings
[Key to Abbreviations]
Duration: 22 mins
First Performance: Heather Corbett (marimba), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Julian Clayton, BBC Glasgow 26.06.2003
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Heather Corbett (marimba), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Julian Clayton, BBC Glasgow 26.06.2003 BBC copyright recording

Notes

Evelyn Glennie asked the composer for a work for 'percussion and orchestra' in 1991. On considering this Howard suddenly realised that the ranges of a modern concert marimba and the cello were virtually identical and set about arranging 'Diversions' for a proposed tour by Evelyn and The East of England Orchestra. However when Martin Kingsbury of Faber Music announced the completion of this work Evelyn said it was not what she had in mind- she wanted a work for lots of different percussion instruments- and the performances were cancelled.

Four years later Howard created a version for piano and marimba (see opus 439a)and performed it with Heather Corbett at the Royal College of Music 27 10 1995 as a result of which he later orchestrated it, finally achieving a recorded first performance in 2003

Performances

27th February 2010 A concert given by the Kelvin Ensemble at Glasgow University will contain two works by Howard Blake. The main concert starting at 7.30 wil feature the 'Diversions for marimba and orchestra' played by the brilliant Heather Corbett, principal percussionist of the BBC Scottish Orchestra alongside Prokofiev's 5th Symphony and a work of John Adams. However as 'pre-concert' event the composer will introduce a third performance of his 'Spieltrieb' quartet performed by the Edinburgh Quartet., Glasgow University

Related Works


'DIVERSIONS - CONCERTO FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA - major diversions on a minor theme' op.337 (September 1984) (Audio Sample Available)
A work in eight movements
'DIVERSIONS FOR MARIMBA AND PIANO' op.439A (1985)
Arranged from "Diversions For Marimba And Orchestra", see opus 439.

Related Autobiography Chapters


Concert premiere: 'GRANPA' with The Philharmonia and London Voices (1989)

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