Ursula Mamlok

Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers was written in 1956 during Mamlok's studies at the Manhattan School. She balances a variety of moods, textures and tempi in six brief movemenm of a divertimento-like character that are thematically unified by the use of melodic fourths and scurrying chromatic figures. The second movement, Night Serenade, is a poignant siciliano, the fourth movement a bitonal Minuet, while the fifth movement, In the Army, is a humorous march. The third movement, In the Rain, is the most virtuosic of the set. Grasshoppers concludes with Hurrying Home, a rapid, often bitonal waltz.

Marnlok orchestrared Grasshoppers in 1957. lts 1958 orchestral premiere, by Carl Bamberger and the Süddeutsches Rundfunkorchester, was one of the first important performances of her music. (Barry Wiener)