Notes by Gary France
Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra by Michael Nelson was commissioned by Gary France in 1993 with support from the Australia Council for the Arts. Recorded July 10, 1996 in ABC Studio 620 by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Roger Smalley conductor, Gary France soloist, Carl Edwards producer.
Movement 1, section one requires the soloist to present the exposition and then improvise on harmonic structures over the orchestra. Section two requires the soloist to improvise on drum set and percussion over the orchestra* before a brief interlude reprising theme one. Section three introduces the five-octave marimba where the soloist performs an improvised cadenza. Section four re-introduces the orchestra with the soloist on vibraphone improvising through to the realised recaptulation and coda.
Movement 2, section one introduces the soloist performing the virtoustic exposition on a three-chromatic octave set of tuned cencerros (cow bells) commisioned by West Australian artisan Chris Murdoch. Section two follows straight on with the soloist playing a 5-octave marimba and vibraphone simultaneously. The marimba and vibraphone are set up in a V configuration, with the left hand playing the marimba and the right hand playing the vibraphone. Section three, requires the percussion soloist to improvise and respond* to the orchestra on drums and percussion. Section four draws the work to a close with a brief return of thematic material with the soloist returning to the cowbells through to the end.
* improvised overdub sections to be added in 2025 and complete the full realisation of this important work.
Listen to Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra
