Clyne, Anna: Spangled Unicorn (2011) 10'
for brass ensemble and tape
Scoring
3.3.3.1
World Premiere
3/21/2011
Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
Chicago Symphony MusicNOW
Composer's Notes
Spangled Unicorn is composed for brass ensemble and an optional tape introduction. The primary inspiration was the powerhouse brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who premiered the work in 2011, and whose unique sound I have become familiar with through my residency with the CSO. I also saw this as an opportunity to take a stab at writing for such an ensemble for the first time. Spangled Unicorn takes its title from Noel Coward's amusing satirical anthology of poetry by such authors as Crispin Pither and Jane Southerby Danks. The book, or more to the point the title of the book, caught my eye at the Myopic Bookstore in Chicago's Wicker Park. I scooped it up, but alas, none of the poems made even the slightest of references to a unicorn of a spangly nature. So, I instead turned to the young writers Helena McBurney (age 11) and Charlotte McBurney (age 9) who created their very own stories about this magical beast. Their words and voices comprise the material for the tape part.
— Anna Clyne
Reproduction Rights:
This program note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programs with a credit to the composer.
Press Quotes
"Typical of Clyne’s music, Spangled Unicorn packs a lot into just 11 minutes ... Well-crafted, virtuosic and written with great flair and a quirky off-center humor, Spangled Unicorn is fully characteristic of Clyne’s engaging and distinctive style."
— Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review
News stories for this title :
Anna Clyne: commissions for Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Perform Two Works by Anna Clyne in Chicago and New York
for brass ensemble and tape
Scoring
3.3.3.1
World Premiere
3/21/2011
Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
Chicago Symphony MusicNOW
Composer's Notes
Spangled Unicorn is composed for brass ensemble and an optional tape introduction. The primary inspiration was the powerhouse brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who premiered the work in 2011, and whose unique sound I have become familiar with through my residency with the CSO. I also saw this as an opportunity to take a stab at writing for such an ensemble for the first time. Spangled Unicorn takes its title from Noel Coward's amusing satirical anthology of poetry by such authors as Crispin Pither and Jane Southerby Danks. The book, or more to the point the title of the book, caught my eye at the Myopic Bookstore in Chicago's Wicker Park. I scooped it up, but alas, none of the poems made even the slightest of references to a unicorn of a spangly nature. So, I instead turned to the young writers Helena McBurney (age 11) and Charlotte McBurney (age 9) who created their very own stories about this magical beast. Their words and voices comprise the material for the tape part.
— Anna Clyne
Reproduction Rights:
This program note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programs with a credit to the composer.
Press Quotes
"Typical of Clyne’s music, Spangled Unicorn packs a lot into just 11 minutes ... Well-crafted, virtuosic and written with great flair and a quirky off-center humor, Spangled Unicorn is fully characteristic of Clyne’s engaging and distinctive style."
— Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review
News stories for this title :
Mailing List
Sign up for news updates and offers via email
SIGN UP
Featured Publication
Britten: War Requiem
Britten's pacifist masterwork, combining war poetry by Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass, is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
READ MORE