k.
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te with the night
Anniversaries come and go, but Susan Nick
‘PLAYING MY MUSIC IS LIKE BEING ON A TIGHTROPE'
Philip Glass (left) and Julian Lloyd Webber
ls finds some fresh fire in two giants
of contemporary classical, PHILIP GLASS and JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER.
hen it came to commissioning a work for his 50th birthday. cellist Julian Lloyd Webber approached Philip Glass. a
composer he‘d admired for some time. to write a concerto. He believed Glass would bring something ‘vital and fresh' to the instrument and the New York- based composer. who knew of the cellist's reputation. was happy to agree. providing there was a commission and performance. By serendipity. a few weeks after the two met in l99‘). Lloyd Webber was playing at the Beijing Festival where he was invited to return two years later with a new work. So the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra was duly written and unveiled in 200] by the China Philharmonic Orchestra. It receives its Scottish premiere here with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and conductor Garry Walker.
The concerto is instantly recognisable as Philip Glass and although it retains the conventional three- movement form. it's quite different in other respects. including the placing of the cadenza right at the beginning of the work. Glass came up with the idea after listening to a concerto written by a friend and realising that the cadenza was in the wrong place. ‘When I told him what I was planning to do he looked pained. Usually the soloist in a concerto has to wait for the whole theme to be stated by the orchestra before he can play so I thought. "To hell with it.“ Let’s start with the main event. the player and the sound of the instrument. He begins to play and doesn‘t stop for 20 minutes.‘
Indeed the opening two minutes provide Lloyd
64 THE LIST 30 Mar—13 Apr 2006
Webber with a gruelling technical workout that he says lets you know immediately where you stand. ‘The caden/a is relentless on the lingers. flat out with repetitive big stretches so it's quite a challenge. Glass‘ orchestral writing is very transparent and totally rhythmic. so you have to he in the right place at the right time as it’s obvious if you‘re not. It‘s a pretty exposed piece for the instrument. particularly in the last movement which involves a lot of scale passages with accidentals which change very slightly. so if you play a wrong note or repeat one when you shouldn‘t then you really notice it.‘
Glass agrees. admitting that ‘playing my music is like being on a tightrope. If you fall off. everyone will watch you fall.‘ Those familiar with Glass‘ music. particularly his scores for films such as The Hours. The Fog of War and Kant/1m. will recognise the trademark mesmeric rocking arpeggios and luxurious string textures brightened with glistening percussion.
While the cello concerto has been performed by Lloyd Webber in New Zealand and England. it‘s still to have its LS premiere. Maybe that will happen next year during celebrations to mark Glass' 7()th birthday. an occasion he has mixed feelings about.
“It will be an exhausting year with lots of big bashes. Everyone complains about them. John Cage died months before his 80th birthday and we all suspected he died because he didn‘t want to go through with it.'
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 8 Apr; RSAMD Glasgow, Sun 9 Apr.
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Gestalt A tasty meeting of DJs. video art and live music
including the Hedrons (pictured). Unkle John and Whitelock and this issue's Single of the Fortnight victors Data Panik. Art School. Glasgow, Fri 37 Mar. (Rock 8 Pop)
Terry Calller The 603 icon is back in the spotlight as lead vocalist on the new Massive Attack single and any opportunity to hear some of his genius jazz- inftected soul folk songs must be taken. Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow, Fri 37 Mar. (Rock 8 Pop)
Spectrum 2 Edinburgh's underground converge for this innovative all-dayer with music from the Very. Found. Dope and Amplifico plus an acoustic room. stalls. fine food and booze and DJs. Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 2 Apr. (Rock 8. Pop)
Poets of Rhythm Munich‘s hip hop funk outfit finally make it over. they cancelled previously because their drummer had to do some recording with DJ Shadow (that might give you an idea of the kind of cats we're dealing with here). Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Thu 6 Apr. (Rock 8 Pop)
Colin Steele’s Stramash The jazz hornsman spreads his wings to lead this ten piece where traditional Scottish and contemporary jazz sounds collide. See preview. page 65. To/booth, Stirling, Wed 5 Apr,- Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 7 Apr; Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow. Sun 9 Apr. (Jazz, Folk)
‘ Preston Reed A consistently rewarding solo performer on acoustic guitar. with an impressive technique and a fertile musical imagination that ranges across genre boundaries. Jazz Centre at the Lot, Edinburgh, Fri 7 Apr. (Jaz, Folk)
121 Duke Heitger with the Scottish Jazz All Stars Trumpeter Heitger teams up with the cream of Scotland's trad jazz talent, fronted by singer Fionna Duncan and clarinettist Forrie Cairns. Jaz Centre at The Lot, Edinburgh, Thu 13 Apr. (Jazz)