Musique américaine pour orchestre à cordes

Description

The title "American Pioneers" indeed refers to American history but also to the pioneers of American music. The choice of composers is not trivial; they are avant-garde composers like Ives or Antheil, among the first musicians trained on American soil like Foote, or those who contributed to the American aesthetic by evoking national myths like Copland. While one can perceive modern accents in Ives' short "Hymn" (1904) with some harmonic friction, at the same time, Foote's writing still follows European classical precepts. His "Suite," op. 63 (1907) is post-romantic in style, showcasing silky strings with Wagnerian colors. Its three movements have beautifully contrasting characters, notably ending with a fugue that has neo-baroque qualities. While in his youth Antheil practiced unrestrained modern music, the "Serenade" (1948) dates from his more subdued period. Nevertheless, it is dynamic with its lively and popular dance rhythms, and its theatrical writing in the first and third movements contrasts with the dark spirit and plaintive lyrical accents of the central slow movement. "Appalachian Spring" (1943-44) concludes this program with its evocation of the pioneers' epic. The music takes on bucolic colors evoking vast spaces, alternating with valiant accents and popular rhythms. This is an interesting example of the diversity of American music.