Julien-François Zbinden

Concerto

This work was commissioned for the occasion of my 80th birthday (November 11, 1997). Composed in 1996, the piece consists of three movements, each a tribute to someone:
1) 'Hommage à I'Interprete'
(' Homage to the performer') is based on a theme using ascending and descending scales in part one
(Allegro moderato). Part two is a livelier Allegro scherzando. This first movement is the only one which
contains two really traditional cadenzas for the performer's enjoyment (hence the title of this Homage).
2) 'Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald'
('Homage to Ella Fitzgerald') was written in the spirit of the blues. It begins and ends with the notes E
and F, the initials of 'Lady Swing', the extraordinary singer who enchanted a young jazz musician (me - which I'll always be) in 1935. She passed away in April of 1996 during the writing of this concerto.
3) 'Hommageà Benny Goodman'
(' Homage to Benny Goodman ') also uses (episodically) the initials of the famed jazz clarinetist: Bb and
G. This fast movement is mainly rhythmical, and as befits such a homage, I make use of various other jazz techniques. The use of 5/4 time is frequent, notably in the short Moderato in the middle of the movement.
Julien-Franc;ois Zbinden

The work was world premiered during the sixth subscription concert of the OCL/Radio Suisse Romande-Espace 2 on April 29, 1997 at the Metropole Concert Hall in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Lausanne Chamber Orchestra was conducted by Milan Horvat with soloist Thomas Friedli, to whom the work is dedicated.