20.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED
WORKS
ORCHESTRAL Overtures
CONCERT OVERTURE "TOWARDS A NEW AGE" Opus 60 (1996)
7'
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Scored for full Symphony Orchestra.
Commissioned by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in
celebration of the 150th anniversary of its foundation.
First performed on January 28th 1997 in Symphony Hall, Birmingham
by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrew
Constantine. As a result of the success of this work Andrew
Downes was awarded a commemorative gold medal for his "outstanding
contribution" to the anniversary celebrations of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The Central England Ensemble
conducted by Anthony Bradbury performed the work in the Adrian Boult Hall,
Birmingham, in November 2004.
'...the overture flickers into life like a willing machine, broad
chorales soaring proudly over energetic rhythms.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
'...an incredible score. Among its many qualities is a marvellous understanding and control of the orchestra. The music is very loud and dramatic at times and almost unbearably exciting and yet the texture of the writing is absolutely faultless.' Dr David Wright MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL
OVERTURE FOR ST CERE Opus 8 (1975) 12'
(2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 3 horns, 3
trumpets, timpani, strings)
Commissioned for the St Cere (France) International Music
Festival of 1976.
Subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio.
'La musique en est detendue, agreable, comme il sied pour un
soir de vacances. L'auteur ne s'ecarte jamais d'un evident parti-pris
de simplicite et de clarte. Sa musique s'ecoute donc sans effort.
'(The music is relaxed, pleasant, as befits a holiday
evening. The composer never moves away from an obvious preference
for simplicity and clarity. His music is therefore listened to
without effort.)'
LA DEPECHE DU MIDI
OVERTURE: IN THE COTSWOLDS Opus 36 (1986)
6'
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(4 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets,
3 trombones, tuba, percussion (4 players), strings)
Commissioned by the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra for the
opening concert of the Three Choirs Festival 1986.
Performed by the Dudley Schools Symphony Orchestra at the
National Festival of 'Music for Youth' at the Royal Festival Hall
in July 1996.
'Downes talent is unquestionably a lyrical one, as is
immediately demonstrated in the work's evocation of the Cotswold
landscape in the song-like opening melody for strings...it
stilled Gloucester Cathedral before the first bar-line had been
reached. But as if fully aware of this picture postcard world,
Downes soon clouds his musical vocabulary with more jagged,
strident, wholly 20th century utterances depicting the modern
world of the town. The climax comes when the two sound worlds are
set against each other, with the enduring beauty of the Cotswold
landscape triumphing over all assaults.
Instrumentation is lavishly bold and technicoloured...'
CLASSICAL MUSIC FORTNIGHTLY