Carter, Elliott: Luimen (1997) 12'
for ensemble

Scoring
tpt.trbn-vib-mand-gtr-harp

World Premiere
3/31/1998
Paradiso, Amsterdam
Nieuw Ensemble / Ed Spanjaard


Composer's Notes  
For a number of years I had been thinking of writing a piece based on the sound of plucked instruments like the mandolin, guitar, and harp, so when the Nieuw Ensemble asked me for a piece I realized that this group had excellent players of these three instruments to which I added trumpet, trombone and vibraphone and composed a one movement fantasy whose title was chosen by the Ensemble (meaning ‘moods’).  The score opens with a fast movement during which the mandolin picks out a line of short notes.  A guitar solo accompanied by the group follows and the work concludes with a coda for the sextet.  The music was composed during the early summer of 1997 in Southbury , Connecticut.



-Elliott Carter

Reproduction Rights:
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer

Recommended Recording
Speculum Musicae/Susan Narucki/Daniel Druckman
Bridge 9111