Hermitage
Concertante Variations on an original theme after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovski
Composed in 2020 on behalf of the North Holland Youth Fanfare Orchestra
With more than three million objects of art, The Hermitage in Saint Petersburg is one of the largest and most versatile museums in the world. I drew inspiration for this work from five paintings exhibited within the museum. Following an introductory passage – ‘Promenade’ – the movement entitled Cheerful Company begins in earnest, based on a painting by the 17th century Dutch artist Dirck Hals. The renowned French impressionist Claude Monet created his Pond at Montgeron in 1876; the corresponding movement draws on the melodious Andante cantabile from the String Quartet Op. 11 by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who died in Saint Petersburg. This piece of music also happens to provide the main theme of all concertante variations in the composition. This is true for the next movement as well, entitled Dance II, modelled after a 20th century work of art by the famous French artist Henri Matisse. The Italian Renaissance artist Titian created the painting that is at the centre of Christ Carrying the Cross. The final movement, Home Concert, represents another fine painting by Dirck Hals, so that things come full circle in an atmospheric way.
Composer: | Jan de Haan |
Instrumentation: | Concert band |
Genre: | Concertwork |
Level: | 4 |
Duration: | 12:30 |
Publisher: | De Haske Order this work |