The ‘forgotten places’ of the title are imaginary. For me they are aesthetic areas, artistic characteristics infrequently visited by or associated with contemporary music. Words like grace, elegance, charm, formality, wit, sentiment or frivolity might describe some of them. I have inscribed each dance to a friend where the music seems to me to reflect in some way an aspect of their personality. This is in gratitude for their support and encouragement.
There are six dances, five fast and one slow, played without a break and with a ‘symphonic’ structure; a set of variations built on a simple series of three bass notes. They are cast within a single mode (as for the key of D major) and have pandiatonic ‘white-note’ harmony throughout. So within the fifteen minute span there is no chromatic change. The textures of the piece have a rich, chamber music feel to them with sometimes as many as nine parts. The piece may be played by as few as nine players and up to a large string orchestra.
Titles of the sections are:
Dance with Stylised Steps (MKS)
Calypso (EB)
Healing dance (DWE)
Graceful dance (LE)
Frolic (D)
Stick dance (GMM)
‘Dances from Forgotten Places’ was commissioned by the European Union Chamber Orchestra with funds made available by the Arts Council of Wales and the Guild for Promotion of Welsh Music.
Programme note by John Metcalf
