Julien-François Zbinden

Poeme pour alto et orchestre a cordes op. 84

The Poeme for viola and string orchestra (or piano) op. 84, is dedicated to Michael Murray-Robertson. The one-movement work begins with an ostinato which builds with a large crescendo. The instrumental soloist responds violently with a cadenza which grows calmer to set up the appearance of a dissonant motif of ascending quarter notes which occurs throughout the rest of the composition. An andante makes up the middle section of the work in the form of a romanza. This episode is followed by a light and virtuoso Allegro marcato which introduces a second cadenza by the soloist. The following passage, calm and expressive, makes contrapuntal use of the theme of the romanza. After a quote from the Allegro ends dramatically, the work concludes calmly, but not without sadness. It dies away with harmonics in the viola. The final note, played without accompaniment, fades into nothingness. Written in 1994, the Poeme, in its orchestra version, had its world premiere at the Hospital Church of the Ancient Abbey in Seville, Spain, on December 16 of that year. Michael Murray-Robertson was accompanied by The London Chamber Players under the direction of Adrian Sunshine. Julien-Francois Zbinden