Today’s choice was premiered at the BBC Proms in 2013, composed for the Last Night of the Proms, conducted by Marin Alsop. Actually, I think everyone should see Marin Alsop conduct an orchestra, or a conducting workshop, at least once.
Anna Clyne was born in 1980 and had her first piece performed at the age of 11 at the Oxford Youth Prom: after finishing school in Headington, she went on to the University of Edinburgh, and the Manhattan School of Music.
She has been composer in residence for many of the top orchestras, works across a variety of genres including in visual arts, and has had her Night Ferry included as one of the BBC Ten Pieces series.
Masquerade is a one-movement work inspired by 18th Century concerts held in London’s pleasure garden. Clyne wrote of this inspiration in the score program notes:
“As is true today, these concerts were a place where people from all walks of life mingled to enjoy a wide array of music. Other forms of entertainment ranged from the sedate to the salacious with acrobatics, exotic street entertainers, dancers, fireworks and masquerades. I am fascinated by the historic and sociological courtship between music and dance. Combined with costumes, masked guises and elaborate settings, masquerades created an exciting, yet controlled, sense of occasion and celebration. It is this that I wish to evoke in Masquerade.”
The score of the work is here, with audio:
Sadly the BBC Proms page is missing the live performance – you can see part of it here:
Listening Project 