Carter, Elliott: Horn Concerto (2006) 12'
for horn and orchestra

Scoring
1.2picc.2.corA.2.bcl.cbcl.2.dbn-0.2.2.1-perc(3):vibr/lg. gong/bongos/cowbell/high SD/lg. almglocke/tgl/small maracas/high SD/tpl.bl;mar/2tom-t/lg susp.cym/4wdbl/sm.susp.cym/2very high pipes/tamb/lg maracas/med.SD;glsp/BD/low SD/log dr/med.susp.cym/wind gong/guiro/lg.pipe/med.SD-pft-strings

World Premiere
11/15/2007
Boston, MA
James Sommerville, horn / Boston Symphony Orchestra / James Levine


Composer's Notes  
James Levine, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, told me several years ago that I should pay attention to the remarkable horn performances given at the symphony concerts of James Sommerville. I was so impressed with this player’s skills and artistic imagination that I decided to write a concerto for him.Many ideas swarmed through my mind, some of which I sketched out and he had the kindness to come to New York City and play them over so beautifully that I got busy with the score in 2006 in New York City.
The work is formed of a number of short sections presenting the many different facets of the horn, which are most remarkable and beautiful.
Elliott Carter, September 5, 2007

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

Press Quotes      Deutsch
"...lucid in its mix of sonorities, rhythmically vital, brilliant in exploiting the horn's resources and outgoing in a way that befits a concerto."
Financial Times



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Elliott Carter: Horn Concerto premiered in Boston

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