ChartresChartres

Chartres (Chamber)

for solo piano and chamber ensemble (1973)



Description

Premiere

29 April 1974
Polly Schaffner, piano / Contemporary Chamber Ensemble /Les Thimmig, musical director
Morphy Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI

Instrumentation

Ob, B-flat Cl. (dbl. B-flat Bass Cl., Glockenspiel), Sop. Sax, Perc 1 [Vib., Timp., High and Low Tom-Tom, High and Low Timbale, High and Low Tri., High and Low Woodblocks], Perc 2 [Antique Cymb., High Triangle, 5 Temple Blocks, Picc. Snare drum, High and Low Woodblocks, High and Low Timables], Piano, Vln, Vcl

Dedication

for Polly Schaffner

Publisher

Biscardi Music Press No. B48-73-2 (available on request)

Program Notes

This work was written for pianist Polly Schaffner. It was inspired by Henry Adams’ Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres. The pianist portrays a jongleur as he takes pilgrims on a tour of the great cathedral, leading them to the apse, which “dominates the void,” with views of the French farmland in the distance.