Island Prelude
Island Prelude is a chamber work composed by
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, it is originally scored for solo oboe and string orchestra
.
Background
Joan Tower says that she found her inspiration for Island Prelude in oboist Peter Bowman's "exceptionally lyrical playing and also
timbres of the instruments that define the counterpoint and make it "more easily heard."[4] Island Prelude is also a rare example of a woodwind quintet that features one instrument as the soloist throughout the piece.[2] Each version of this piece is about 10 minutes in duration. It is dedicated "with love to Jeff Litfin".[1]
Analysis
Susan Feder's program notes of the St. Louis Symphony recording of this piece include imagery given by Tower regarding the title:[1]
"The Island is remote, lush, tropical with stretches of white beach interspersed with thick green jungle. Above is a large, powerful, and brightly colored bird which soars and glides, spirals up, and plummets with folded wings as it dominates but lives in complete harmony with its island home."
Tower's analysis of Island Prelude divides it into three main sections, possibly fitting the
major ninth
chord.
References
- ^ a b c d Slatkin, Leonard. "Island Prelude." By Joan Tower. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Elektra Entertainment, 1990.
- ^ a b Tower, Joan. 1992. Island Prelude; for oboe and wind quartet. Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, New York.
- ^ Tower, Joan. 1992. Island Prelude; for oboe and wind quartet Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, New York.
- ^ a b G. Schirmir Inc., Island Prelude
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