Pitt Symphony Orchestra -- Julia Perry: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents the world premiere of Julia Perry's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra along with works by Sibelius, Bruch and Schubert.
Streamed LIVE from Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Feb. 23, 2022
Read the complete program here: www.music.pitt...
PROGRAM:
JEAN SIBELIUS: Finlandia (1899/1900)
JULIA PERRY: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1963-1965) - FIRST PERFORMANCE
Roger Zahab, violin soloist
Cullyn D. Murphy, conductor
INTERMISSION
MAX BRUCH: Romance, op. 85 for solo viola and orchestra
Elyssa Allen, viola soloist
FRANZ SCHUBERT: "Unfinished" Symphony No. 8, D. 759 (1822)
Roger Zahab, conductor
About the Perry Concerto: One afternoon near the end of my undergraduate studies - around 1977-78 - my violin teacher Paul Biss stepped out of his office and handed me a score by Julia Perry. She had sent the piano reduction of her Violin Concerto to him in the hope that he might know of someone who would play it, and he handed it over to me. I called her phone number and spoke with her mother, America Perry, who said that Julia was right next to her but unable to talk. I asked a few questions about how I could get the materials should I ever be able to perform it and she directed me to contact Arthur Cohn at Carl Fischer, who explained to me that the materials were “a mess”. I was determined to bring it to sounding life - and it has taken me until tonight to locate the full score, make a performing edition, create the parts, and gather this fine and adventurous orchestra to present her concerto. Many people have helped me along the way, but in particular I want to thank my friend violinist Aurora Manuel. She taught me above all to respect so singular a composer, and that if I was going to pursue her work, I should trust Perry’s ideas no matter how unusual or difficult I found them. Roger Zahab
Program Notes by the composer for CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA - Julia Perry
Unlike the baroque, classical, or contemporary violin concertos comprized of three distinct movements the CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA by Julia Perry consists of seventeen time changes, each successive change performed without intermission. The first forty eight introductory, unaccompanied measures immediately display the technical brilliance of the soloist. This improvisatory passage forms much of the thematic material for the entire composition.
A momentary suspension in the improvisatory passage (metronomic marking) Moderate quarter note = 84 - the soloist is joined by the bassoons, cellos and basses followed by winds and brass. Strings and percussion relieve the soloist in a 6/4 rhythm with an occasional interposed 5/4 measure. These sames measures are repeated in the composition by winds and brasses with strings and harp entering briefly in the 5/4 intervening measure. In the succeeding passage marked Moderate quarter note = 84 the soloist plays consecutive major 7ths.
Between the repetition of the major 7ths, repeated a half step lower, the soloist and orchestra construct the connecting section from a chordal concept by forming intervals consisting of perfect fourths and fifths - measures 184-191.
Another harmonic image is introduced with major ninths which are altered to minor sevenths - compare m. 210 with m 219.
The final 6/4 measures (measures 314-341) alternating between winds and brasses, strings and soloist come to a climax that complements the ensuing solo passage.
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra concludes with triple and quadruple stops for the soloist amidst decorative fanfare in the orchestra.
JULIA PERRY

[@clarafuhrman1260]

Fantastic performance of the Julia Perry-you beat me to the world premiere! I am doing my DMA dissertation & lecture on this concerto & will be performing it for the first time with piano reduction at the University of Oregon next month. Thank you for showcasing this amazing work!

[@nostalgicmodernist1399]

If your lecture and your performance are recorded, could you upload them? It would be fascinating to hear more about this rare piece.