MacMillan, James: After the Tryst (1988) 3'
for violin and piano
World Premiere
9/19/1990
Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
Members of the Paragon Ensemble
Composer's Notes
In 1984 I set William Soutar’s love poem The Tryst to music in the style of an old Scottish ballad. This I sang in folk clubs and bars around Scotland with my old folk group Broadstone. The composition and performances of this song made a lasting impression on me as it felt as if I had tapped into a deep reservoir of shared tradition as my setting was quite faithful to the old ballad style.
Four years later I started developing this music into something else. In After The Tryst I elongated and ornamented the original melody into a virtuosic and highly expressive miniature for violin with piano accompaniment. The original harmonic outline is still adhered to and emphasized by the most simple series of arpeggiated chords on the piano. This work was the initial sketch for Búsqueda and Tryst.
James MacMillan
Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Recommended Recording
Scottish Chamber Orchestra / James MacMillan
(p) and (c) 1993 BMG Music
RCA 828766428520
for violin and piano
World Premiere
9/19/1990
Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
Members of the Paragon Ensemble
Composer's Notes
In 1984 I set William Soutar’s love poem The Tryst to music in the style of an old Scottish ballad. This I sang in folk clubs and bars around Scotland with my old folk group Broadstone. The composition and performances of this song made a lasting impression on me as it felt as if I had tapped into a deep reservoir of shared tradition as my setting was quite faithful to the old ballad style.
Four years later I started developing this music into something else. In After The Tryst I elongated and ornamented the original melody into a virtuosic and highly expressive miniature for violin with piano accompaniment. The original harmonic outline is still adhered to and emphasized by the most simple series of arpeggiated chords on the piano. This work was the initial sketch for Búsqueda and Tryst.
James MacMillan
Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Recommended Recording
Scottish Chamber Orchestra / James MacMillan
(p) and (c) 1993 BMG Music
RCA 828766428520
To purchase this CD from Amazon, click here
Mailing List
Sign up for news updates and offers via email
SIGN UP
Featured Publication
Rachmaninoff: Paganini Rhapsody
The sparkling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
READ MORE