Beyond Boundaries
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in A major, K 581
Austrian Classical-era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was turning the crowned heads of Europe when he was only six years old, is considered one of the greatest child prodigies in history. For one who died at the age of 35, his output was extraordinary: over 600 works in virtually every genre. The Salzburg native’s earliest teacher was his doting father, and by age five the boy was competent on keyboard and violin and was composing simple works. At age 17 he was employed as a musician at the Salzburg court but relocated to Vienna, where he would spend the rest of his short life as one of the first professional composers, writing prolifically but struggling financially.
The quintet for clarinet and strings in A major was written in September 1789 and premiered the following December, at a time when the composer’s popularity and prosperity were in decline. The quintet was presented as a gift to Anton Stadler, the leading clarinetist in Vienna and a close friend. The four-movement piece strikes a bittersweet tone, exploring the technical capabilities of the instrument while taking full advantage of the dedicatee’s virtuosity. The quintet is one of the most expressive works of one of music’s greatest geniuses.
Edward Knight (b. 1961) Beneath a Cinnamon Moon (with original photography of Oklahoma by M.J. Alexander)
The Michigan native grew up in a musical household and was introduced to music by his grandmother, a concert pianist and piano teacher. As a youth, he toured three summers with Musical Youth International as a trumpet player, performing in Russia, Scandinavia, the British Isles and several European capitals. Knight holds a master’s and doctorate in composition from the University of Texas. He spent a year studying privately with John Corigliano in New York and studied at London’s Royal College of Music, where he became the first American to win the Arthur Bliss Memorial for outstanding postgraduate composer.
This trio for clarinet, viola and piano was commissioned by the Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble to commemorate Oklahoma’s centennial in 2007. The work is, at its very core, a celebration of the 46th state. Composer Edward Knight notes: “Through research into ancient music created by tribes living in and around what is now Oklahoma, I was especially moved by songs of the Wichita and Pawnee. I reflected on their essence and used that pulse as a rhythm, a heartbeat, for the piece.” Knight adds that he “layered propulsive textures—inspired by locomotives, windmills and pumpjacks—and sprinkled them with elements from the state's history, including blues, jazz, and a hoe-down.” The piece includes facets designed to evoke milestones in the state’s history: the Trail of Tears, the Land Run of 1889, the 1930s Dust Bowl era, and Oklahoma’s cycle of oil booms and busts. Knight calls the work “a poetic retelling of the story of Oklahoma, which unfolded on the red earth, beneath a cinnamon moon.”
M. J. Alexander (b. 1961) American writer and photographer, playwright, poet and lyricist, Alexander is known for her documentation of the American West, particularly Native American cultures. In 2009, the UNESO-sponsored World Humanity Photography Award honored her for her photographic series on Apache crown dance, and in 2019, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Her stunning award-winning photography of the skyscapes and landscapes of Oklahoma will accompany the previously recorded performance of Beneath a Cinnamon Moon.
-Program Notes by Sara Grossman
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