Concerto Grosso No. 1 (Ichmouratov)

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = Concerto Grosso N1 Op.28

| composer = Airat Ichmouratov

| image = Concerto Grosso N1 by Airat Ichmouratov.jpg

| image_upright = 1.3

| caption = the first page of the conductor's score of Concerto Grosso N1 Op.28 by Airat Ichmouratov

| key =

| opus = 28

| dedication = Yuli Turovsky

| composed = {{Start date|2011}}

| performed = {{Start date|2011|07|15|df=y}}

| published =

| movements = three, without pause

| duration = about 21 minutes

| scoring = solo violin, solo viola, solo cello, solo clarinet, solo piano, Strings with timpani and percussion

}}

Airat Ichmouratov's Concerto Grosso N1, Op. 28, was composed in 2011. It was commissioned and premiered on 15 July 2011 by French Canadian conductor Jean-François Rivest and Orford Camerata at Orford Art's Centre, Orford, Canada.{{cite journal |title=Regional Calendar |journal=La Scene Musicale |date=July 2011 |volume=16 |page=31 |url=http://www.scena.org/pdf-files/sm16-x_lr.pdf |access-date=23 September 2023}} Ichmouratov himself was performing solo clarinet part as well on the recording of Concerto Grosso N1, that was released on Chandos in 2019.{{cite web |title=Ichmouratov: Orchestral Works |url=https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020141 |website=www.chandos.net |access-date=23 September 2023}}

Dedication

Concerto Grosso N1 is dedicated to renowned Soviet-born Canadian cellist, conductor and music educator{{cite news |last=Kaptainis |first=Arthur |date=15 January 2013 |title=Turovsky founded I Musici de Montréal |publisher=The Gazette (Montreal) |url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Turovsky+founded+Musici+Montr%C3%A9al/7824137/story.html |access-date=16 January 2013}}{{cite news |date=16 January 2013 |title=Montreal cellist Yuli Turovsky dies at 73 |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/montreal-cellist-yuli-turovsky-dies-at-73-1.1409698 |access-date=16 January 2013}}{{cite web |last=Turbide |first=Nadia |title=Yuli Turovsky |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/yuli-turovsky |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822191345/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/yuli-turovsky |archive-date=22 August 2012 |access-date=16 January 2013 |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia}} Yuli Turovsky, whom Ichmouratov considered a mentor and with whom collaborated on multiple occasions. In 2004 Turovsky invited Ichmouratov's klezmer band Kleztory to record CD with I Musici de Montreal chamber orchestra (Chandos Records).{{cite news |last1=Turbide |first1=Nadia |title=I Musici de Montréal |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/i-musici-de-montreal-emc |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |date=28 June 2011}}{{Cite web |date=March 2004 |title=Klezmer: Jewish Music – CHSA 5027 |url=https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHSA%205027 |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=www.chandos.net}} Ichmouratov's "Fantastic Dances" for clarinet, cello and piano with Strings and percussion were commissioned and recorded by Yuli Turovsky & I Musici de Montreal.{{cite web |title=Shostakovich, Weinberg, Ichmouratov |url=https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/shostakovich-weinberg-ichmouratov |website=outhere-music.com |access-date=23 September 2023}} The work was premiered in Pollack Hall on 20 December 2007.{{cite web |last1=Foley |first1=Daniel |title=Shostakovich; Weinberg; Ichmouratov I Musici de Montreal; Yuli Turovsky Analekta AN 2 9899 |url=https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/booksrecords2/moderncontempo/314-modern-a-contemporary-march-09 |website=www.thewholenote.com |access-date=23 September 2023}} In 2011, replacing Yuli Turovsky at short notice, Ichmouratov conducted I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra on tour in USA,{{cite news |author=Timothy Mcdonald, Special to The Star |date=8 April 2011 |title=Review – I Musici di Montréal presented by the Harriman-Jewell Series |publisher=Kansas City Star |location=Kansas, USA |url=http://hjseries.instantencore.com/web/page.aspx?title=News+and+Reviews--KCStar |url-status=dead |accessdate=2015-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808134153/http://hjseries.instantencore.com/web/page.aspx?title=News+and+Reviews--KCStar |archive-date=2016-08-08}} Brazil{{cite news |author=Clarissa Coli |date=21 August 2011 |title=Musical exchange (in Portuguese) |publisher=Diário do Vale |location=Rio de Janeiro |url=http://www.diariodovale.com.br/noticias/3,44973,Intercambio%20Musical.html#axzz3i87p3v6Z |url-status=dead |accessdate=2015-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226175346/http://www.diariodovale.com.br/noticias/3%2C44973%2CIntercambio%20Musical.html#axzz3i87p3v6Z |archive-date=2016-02-26}} and Peru.{{cite news |date=5 August 2011 |title=The Philharmonic Society of Lima: 104 AUGUST MONTH ANNIVERSARY (in Spanish) |publisher=sociedadfilarmonica.com.pe |location=Lima, Peru |url=http://www.sociedadfilarmonica.com.pe/detalle_not-fila.php?id=250&type=act |url-status=dead |accessdate=2015-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064451/http://www.sociedadfilarmonica.com.pe/detalle_not-fila.php?id=250&type=act |archive-date=2016-03-04}}

Analysis

The work comprises three movements which performed without pause:

Allegro – Poco meno mosso – Tempo I – Poco meno mosso
Adagio – Con molta espressione, doloroso – Poco meno mosso
Allegro con brio – Poco a poco crescendo – Poco più mosso, frenetico

A typical performance of the work lasts around 21 minutes.

===Klezmer influence===

File:Airat Ichmouratv and Elvira Misbakhova during Kleztory's performance.Shanghai , China, August 2013.jpg during Kleztory's performance in Shanghai, China, August 2013]]Ichmouratov, who has vast experience in klezmer music{{cite news |last1=Solomon |first1=Heather |title=Klezmer band enlivens McGill Chamber Orchestra concert |url=https://thecjn.ca/arts/klezmer-band-enlivens-mcgill-chamber-orchestra-concert/ |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=The Canadian Jewish News |date=9 March 2016}} (after being for more than 20 years a clarinetist of award-winning klezmer band Kleztory) often integrates klezmer folk music in his classical compositions,{{cite news |last1=Barber |first1=Stephen |title=Klezmer dreams |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Klezmer_dreams_ACD22738.htm |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=www.musicweb-international.com}} as well he composed and recorded with Kleztory multiple works for klezmer band in traditional klezmer style.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Philip |title=Kleztory: Momentum |url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2020/11/kleztory-momentum/ |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=folkradio.co.uk}}{{cite web |last1=Blackburn |first1=Roger |title=Klezmer – Première Recordings |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/jun04/klezmer.htm |website=www.musicweb-international.com |access-date=23 September 2023}}

File:A.Ichmouratov Concerto grosso N1 I mv. Clarinet part mm 318-329.jpg

{{listen|filename=Clarinet Doina sample from Concerto Grosso N1 by A.Ichmouratov.ogg|title=Clarinet Doina sample from Concerto Grosso N1 by Ichmouratov |description=Illustration of the klezmer influence in Ichmouratov's Concerto Grosso No 1 (mm 318–324). This sample demonstrates how Ichmouratov incorporated elements of klezmer music (Doina) into his composition.}}

We can see the presence of klezmer influences in Concerto Grosso N1 as well. In the latter part of the first movement we can hear a melismatic clarinet doina emerges as a notable musical element. Its opening phrase, assumes a pivotal role in the composition, serving as the foundational musical cell from which Ichmouratov crafts the entire concerto. The doina's origins can be traced back to Romanian folk music traditions, but now firmly rooted in the klezmer style of music.{{cite news |title=Doina – Genre |url=https://musicbrainz.org/genre/2a66dc44-b53e-4b54-a09e-0b4a7dd62ed0 |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=musicbrainz.org}} In the central Adagio movement, a transformation unfolds as the solo cello takes hold of the ascending motif. This motif, while bearing a Jewish modality, is a composer's creation. It resounds three times through the movement, each iteration deepening the emotional resonance. The clarinet then takes center stage, imbuing the motif with a full-throated lament, marked by the expressive directive "doloroso," signifying profound sadness. The concluding movement's central theme, a direct descendent of the broad, the second theme encountered in the opening movement, is introduced by the solo violin. This theme is subsequently echoed by the viola and, in short order, taken up by the entire orchestra. Against the backdrop of a resolute marching bass, angular triplet patterns accompany a violin melody, reminiscent of the freylekh style, and partially derived from the aforementioned triplets. This musical narrative escalates to a frenzied climax, characterized by the intense tones of the klezmer clarinet, which soon undergoes further development, eventually leading to the triumphant return of the exuberant central theme.{{cite news |last1=Arloff |first1=Steve |title=Premiere recordings CHAN20141 |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Sep/Ichmouratov_orchestral_CHAN20141.htm |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=www.musicweb-international.com}}

Instrumentation

Concerto Grosso N1 is scored for solo violin, solo viola, solo cello, solo clarinet, solo piano, Strings with timpani and percussion (performed by 1 player), which consist: triangle, glockenspiel, tam-tam, guiro, tubular bells and suspended cymbal.{{cite web |title=Ichmouratov, Airat : Concerto grosso No.1, op.28 |url=https://daniels-orchestral.com/ichmouratov-airat/concerto-grosso-1-opus-28/ |website=daniels-orchestral.com |access-date=23 September 2023}}

Critical reception

File:Airat Ichmouratov with Yuli and Eleonora Turovsky.jpg (to whom Concerto grosso N1 is dedicated) and his wife, violinist Eleonora Turovsky, summer 2001 ]]The recording of Concerto Grosso N1 gained average-to-positive reviews. Jeremy Pound of BBC Music Magazine wrote: "Filmic, feisty, flamboyant and, admittedly, occasionally a little froth, Ichmouratov’s orchestral music is rarely dull. It benefits here from characterful performances".[https://www.pressreader.com/uk/bbc-music-magazine/20190710/page/22/ BBC Music Magazine – Brief Notes section, October 2019”]. Retrieved 8 May 2020 Carlos Maria Solare of The Strad wrote: "The first movement of Ichmouratov’s Concerto grosso no.1 could be a rewrite of its opposite number in Prokofiev’s ‘Classical’ Symphony, albeit with a more heart-on-sleeve lyrical subject than the older composer might have countenanced".[https://www.thestrad.com/reviews/elvira-misbakhova-ichmouratov/9521.article/ The Strad – Elvira Misbakhova: Ichmouratov”]. Retrieved 8 May 2020 Ateş Orga of ClassicalSource.com wrote: "Enviable confidence, facility and rhythmic tension inform the First Concerto Grosso".[http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=16839/ ClassicalSource.com – Airat Ichmouratov – Letter from an Unknown Woman [Chandos]”] Retrieved 8 May 2020 David Guttman of Gramophone wrote: "The Concerto grosso No 1, Op 28, is vaguely neo-Baroque fare, fusing Russian and Jewish elements".[https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/ichmouratov-letter-from-an-unknown-woman/ Gramophone, Ichmouratov – Letter From an Unknown Woman]. Retrieved 8 May 2020

References

External links

[http://www.airatichmouratov.com Airat Ichmouratov -Official website]
[https://collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Composer-Showcase.aspx?component=AAIL&record=f8319c38-657d-4352-84b8-80a17a500724&lang=en-CA Canadian Music Centre]
[https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020141 complete recording of Concerto Grosso N1 Op.28 ] Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Evgeny Bushkov – Chandos, August 2019 (21:10)

Category:Compositions by Airat Ichmouratov

Category:2011 compositions

Ichmouratov