Instrumentation: violin and piano

 

Duration: 11 minutes

 

Program Notes:

Wild Ambrosia was written for Soovin Kim and Ieva Jokubaviciute on a commission from the Lane Series in Vermont. The word ambrosia comes from ancient Greek mythology and was the term for the food and drink of the gods. It is represented by the more lyrical aspects of the piece, while the “wild” part refers to the more virtuosic aspects of the piece. I knew I wanted to compose a work that would take full advantage of these two wonderful musicians, both their lyrical playing and virtuoso technique. Though in one continuous movement, the piece contains two different kinds of music, one slow and lyrical, and the other fast and furious. I wanted to give the musicians chances to “sing” through their instruments as well as present them with some challenging and exciting music. The opening section is an introduction for solo violin and is very free, almost like a cadenza. The piano eventually enters and solo becomes duo, with the violin “singing” high above the reverberations of the piano. Both instruments accelerate together into a faster, more aggressive section characterized by highly energetic rhythms and syncopations as the music moves breathlessly to its conclusion.

 

-- Pierre Jalbert