Dithyramb

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6YXeDG5gCE

Richard Wilson's DITHYRAMB, performed by Randall Wolfgang, oboe, and Larry Guy, clarinet. Published by Peermusic Classical. • A dithyramb is a song in honor of the god of fertility, wine and drama--Dionysus. It dates back at least to the 7th century BCE. From the 5th century BCE, it was commonly accompanied by the most important of ancient Greek instruments, the aulos. About the aulos we know that it had at least one reed and may have had two, and that it is nearly always pictured being played in pairs by one player. The ancient dithyramb was evidently not especially wild or frenzied, but rather hymnic and invocational. • In my own contribution to this genre, I have written for a pair of reed instruments, one single and one double, which are played by two players instead of one--certain ancient secrets being lost forever. I would describe the piece as ceremonial, lyrical, and only mildly Dionysian at one point: a passage near the end in which the instruments alternate, in rapid succession, a grace-note figure. • The work was given its premiere in Carnegie Recital Hall (now Weill Recital Hall) on May 3, 1983 by Margaret Helfer, oboe, and Meyer Kupferman, clarinet. • --Richard Wilson • Order sheet music: • http://www.halleonard.com/product/vie...

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