Julien-François Zbinden

Concerto op. 87

This work was commissioned on the occasion of my 80th birthday (November 11, 1997). Composed in 1996, consisting of 3 movements in the form of tributes: 1) "Hommage à I'Interprete" (In honor of the interpreter) is based in the 1st part mainly on a theme of ascending and descending scales (Allegro moderato), the second part takes place in a faster Allegro scherzando. This first movement is the only one with 2 real, traditional cadenzas, to the delight of the performer. 2) "Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald" is written in the style of a blues. It begins and ends with the notes E and F, the initials of "Lady Swing", the extraordinary singer who since 1935 delighted the jazz musician I have never ceased to be. She died in April 1996 while I was writing this concert. 3) "Hommage à Benny Goodman" also contains, episodically, the initials of the famous jazz clarinettist (B and G). This movement is mainly rhythmic in a brisk tempo and, in the name of this tribute, some jazz formulas are also inserted. The 5th bar appears frequently, especially in the short moderato in the middle of the movement. Julien-Franc;ois Zbinden The work was premiered on the occasion of the 6th subscription concert of the Orchestre de Chambre of Lausanne/ Radio Suisse Romande Espace 2 on April 29, 1997 in the hall of the Metropole in Lausanne. The Orchestre de Chambre was conducted by Milan Horvat, the soloist was Thomas Friedli, the dedicatee.