Bertrand Moren

Concerto Romantico

This Concerto Romantico is one of my most important works for brass. As the title suggests, it explores a theme that is very close to my heart: romance, which is experienced differently at different stages of life. Each movement illustrates an episode. The first, 'Maturity', recalls a time when the big emotions have subsided. This is reflected in its stable and moderate tempo. However, this does not prevent the lyrical themes from inviting us to dream and feelings that endure and contribute to happiness. A calmer and more romantic section later reinforces this idea. The second piece, "Youth", is entirely dedicated to poetry and romance. It conveys the intensity of the first feelings of love and the discovery of love. The finale, "Childhood", is playful and humorous. Light-heartedness prevails, even though moments of tenderness appear again and again, corresponding to the spontaneous feelings of childhood. A reverse chronological order was chosen to reflect my view of this subject on the threshold of my 50th year. The last two movements were written for my friend Gilles Rocha, a famous soloist and euphonium teacher, on the occasion of the World Brass Band Championships in Kerkrade in 2013. They correspond to the Concertino Romantico. The first movement, commissioned in 2025 at the suggestion of my friend Fabien Décaillet, an enthusiastic amateur euphonium player, makes the premiere of the Concerto Romantico possible.