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Augusta Read Thomas: Solstice Ritual - Homage to Varese and Ravel for fourteen virtuosi [Printed Music for Hire]
£0.00
In stock
Catalogue Number
NMP1288
for 14 Virtuosi
85-page A3 wire-bound Conductor's Score and 14 x A4 saddle-stitched Parts
Duration: c.18 mins
ISMN No: 979-0-708219-38-5
Over the past forty-five years, I have composed many works whose titles point to natural and celestial radiances: galaxy, star, sun, earth, moon, sky, light, dawn, illumination, equinox, summer, etc. One central metaphor of my life’s creative work is that of light refracting. Of interest to me, for my work, is to build, sculpt, and compose clean, clear, transparent, translucent, luminous, radiant, shining, resounding and resonant musical materials. Solstice Ritual for 14 virtuosi shares many of these preoccupations. Solstice Ritual also pays homage to the composers Edgard Varèse and Maurice Ravel, and it celebrates their imagination, joy, love, vitality, soul, energy, great chords and rich chord progressions, resonant orchestrations, tight big-band-like splash-chords and the sheer beating-heart inner life of their music. I love all of their compositions and to give just two examples among many, Varèse’s percussion writing and Ravel’s gorgeous orchestrations have been longstanding sources of inspiration. Augusta Read Thomas
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NIMBUS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Email: publishing@wyastone.co.uk
Manufacturer: Wyastone Estate Limited, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, NP25 3SR
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Reviews:
"Thomas has an exquisite ear and a most attractive musical personality. The first work here, Solstice Ritual, is subtitled Homage to Varèse and Ravel; that gives an idea of her musical forbears. She has Ravel’s fastidiousness, his piquant harmonies and his feeling for a long line. From Varèse she takes a serious interest in percussion, particularly in bells and drums, though without his aggressiveness. She quite likes the splintered textures of post-Webernian pointillism, but with a much greater forward momentum than is usual in that idiom... For me, Solstice Ritual is the standout work here, but all the others are of interest. The various players and ensembles all play with a will, and give accomplished performances. The recording is excellent. Those who already know Thomas’s work will need no persuading to acquire this disc; those who, like me, did not, will be glad to make the acquaintance of a really worthwhile contemporary composer with a distinctive and beguiling voice." Stephen Barber, MusicWeb International (May, 2026)