H78 Joy Beast (2016)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the BBC Philharmonic.
First performed at City Hall, Hull, UK on 30 June 2017 by Mark Simpson (basset clarinet) and the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Martyn Brabbins.
This work was commissioned for the PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial, which is generously supported by Hull UK City of Culture, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England, BBC Radio 3, Southbank Centre, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Cockayne, The John S Cohen Foundation, The Jerwood Charitable Foundation, The Finzi Trust, RVW Trust, The Bliss Trust and NMC Recordings.
Instrumentation: 1picc+2fl(2afl).2ob(1ca).1bcl.1bsn+1cbsn / 3hn(F).3tpt(C).1tntbn+1btbn.1tba / 3perc(glock.mar.vibra.) / pf(cel).hp / solo basset clarinet in A / strings (0.0.8.0.8.)
Duration : c. 17.5’
Programme note:
‘Joy Beast’ came about from an initial text message to Mark Simpson who has been, for some years now, trying to create a strong repertoire of pieces for the basset clarinet. “Basset clarinet concerto?” followed by Mark’s response: “You took the very thought out of my head!”.
I seem, over the years, to have written a fair few pieces for clarinets of all varieties, but nothing for the basset clarinet, an instrument I must confess to have known very little about.
Finding a way through the 15’ duration handed to me with the eventual commission for the BBC Philharmonic with Mark as soloist, became the project. I had earlier written a piccolo concerto (‘Fool is hurt’) ‘inspired’ in part by the mesmeric Fool paintings and etchings of Cecil Collins and I found that the thought process around this subject matter leaked into the thinking for the new concerto. And so ‘Joy Beast’ began its life, especially when I discovered the very other etching (of the same name) also by Collins of a rampant, bull-like creature with fearsome horns. It provided a suitable contrast to the more contemplative fool images of the first three movements: 1] Sleeping Fool, 2] Fool and birds and 3] The Secret. So much so that the piece seems to break out of the orchestra altogether and invade the audience in the form of an offstage piccolo and muted trumpet (who play music that is utterly independent to the orchestra with their own unsynchronised tempi) and also with a rogue offstage bassoon, with which the basset clarinet duets. The piece lasts about 17’30” and is, of course, dedicated to Mark Simpson.
SH
13 July 2017
Past Performances:
30 June 2017 (World Première)
Mark Simpson (basset clarinet) and the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Martyn Brabbins. The piece was played twice during the same concert.
City Hall, Hull, UK
9 July 2017
Mark Simpson (basset clarinet) and the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by André de Ridder. The piece was played twice during the same concert.
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, UK