Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra Op. 50 (1996) c. 20'00"

(2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/timp/hp/pno/perc(1)/solo picc/strings)

I. Andante comodo
II. Adagio
III. Presto

Commissioned by the National Flute Association

First performed on August 18th, 1996 at the National Flute Association Convention in New York City by Jan Gippo, piccolo with the New Jersey Symphony conducted by Glenn Cortese

Dedicated to Jan Gippo

ABOUT

The Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra Op.50 was commissioned by Jan Gippo, principal piccolo player of the St. Louis Symphony, who gave the premiere of the work on August 18th, 1996 in New York City with the New Jersey Symphony conducted by Glenn Cortese.  The occasion was the annual convention of the National Flute Association, who sponsored the commission.

It is scored for an orchestra consisting of 2 each of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and trumpets, timpani, 1 percussionist, harp, piano and strings.

Jan Gippo had enthusiastically pursued the idea of commissioning a piccolo concerto from me ever since he played orchestral piccolo in the premiere of my Flute Concerto  with James Galway and the St. Louis Symphony.  Won over by his enthusiasm, I agreed to write this work for an instrument which has had virtually no concerto repertoire since the baroque era.  In doing so I was eager to stress the lyrical and expressive qualities of an instrument which is too often stereotyped as being useful for only brilliant and ornamental flourishes.

The work falls into three movements which are united by thematic and motivic materials, significant among which is a twelve note row which forms the basis of the second movement's variations.  The final movement, which puts the seriousness of the first two movements aside for a unbridled romp,  makes use of three musical quotations at strategic structural moments.

Orchestration of the Concerto was completed at the Loew's Hotel in Monte Carlo,  where I was situated for the rehearsal period of my opera, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

The Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra has been recorded on the BMG label by James Galway with the London Mozart Players conducted by the composer.

RECORDINGS

REVIEWS

“This delightful work was full of eerie beauty and rollicking good humor - it certainly confirmed his status as one of his generation’s finest composers.”
The Post-Courier, Charleston, SC

“…composer Lowell Liebermann has produced an attractive, quirky score in a very 20th century idiom that explores the limits of the instrument.”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"This incredible work exploits the piccolo as a solo instrument. The first movement’s lush sonorities and intense emotion balances the second movement’s lyrical lines, beautifuyl melodies, and passion. The third movement is a raucous and humorous scherzo…”
Flute Talk

“…the conventioneers, recognizing a sure-fire crowd-pleaser, gave the performance a cheering standing ovation.”
The New York Times

“…Lowell Liebermann’s beautiful concerto, stunningly recorded by James Galway.”
American Record Guide