Variations on a Young Violinist

Performed by the Santa Rosa Symphony Young People's Chamber Orchestra, March 2004. Nathaniel Morrison, soloist. Directed by Linda Ghidossi-DeLuca.

The YPCO is an elite group of around 20 teenage string players, age 11-17. They perform without a conductor, using gesture, body language, and teamwork to cue each other and stay in sync. At the time of this recording, the soloist Nathaniel was 15 years old, and had been with the ensemble for several years. Members of the YPCO often played in support of the string section in regular SRSO concerts, and a high proportion of graduates go on to become professional musicians.

This piece was commissioned by the group in memory of William J. Kwan, Jr., a YPCO graduate who died in a car accident at the age of 20. Billy Kwan was one of the first members of the YPCO, and is sorely missed.

I was composer in residence for this group for over six years, and this work is one of over a dozen that I composed specifically for its members.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• variations
• paganini
• ypco
• young
• peoples
• chamber
• orchestra
• strings
• youth
• original
• composition
• composer
• orchestration
• solo
• violin

[madderbass]

At 4:40, it sounds like that annoying cell phone ring tone you hear all the time. Was this intentional?

Nonetheless, I love this piece. Great string writing! I'm currently trying to compose variations right now for concert band and in terms of composing variations, this is actually quite helpful.

[OrchestrationOnline]

@madderbass Actually, this was written before that Nokia theme became ubiquitous - but nicely observed, I never noticed the similarity. Purely a coincidental use of the same rhythm, I assure you.

[InnerOrchestra]

Wondering... do you have the ability to be engulfed in music the same way one is in a dream? I often dream and in the dream I hear music as I compose it, as real and 3d as if I am in the middle of the orchestra. Do you have the ability to turn it on like that anytime? For me it is very rare that I have the spiritual peace required to have it this way... just curious!

[OrchestrationOnline]

@InnerOrchestra All I need is a quiet room, no distractions, and a deadline. Then I sit down and write and don't worry about it. I once wrote a piece for piano quartet, "Night Fragments," that was all composed from themes I composed in my sleep.

I think you should try to write down all your ideas, even the ones you dream.

[HandyTheXxxX]

The writing is obviously very suitable for an orchestra with this age/skill range. The results are great, due to your appropriate writing for the ensemble. It's always very inspiring to read along with the score, and to hear the advice of a professional musician.

[vei85]

@OrchestrationOnline

wow, wad a keen perception by madderbass..

Sir, u shud file a lawsuit against nokia. * gigglesss ;P

[ezev8logos]

@InnerOrchestra That also happened to me very often I dream of music very complex and very real, and I wake up thinking about where that music came from, was it only in my mind?

[mokkaaaaa]

@SharpWMusic Me too! :)

[CapitamGZ]

Great! Beautiful and instructive. Thank you for the score.

[SharpWMusic]

I really love the 2nd Variation!

[InnerOrchestra]

@OrchestrationOnline Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am trying to do these days. I have Sibelius 6, got Adler's book and cd are finishing soon, I have to go with the basics as well, but I love it gimme an island and Sibelius (+eternal battery) and I'd be a happy camper... :) Thanks again for this series!