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Melodica Madness

Composer:

Fabian Svensson

Instrumentation:

8 melodicas, hi-hat, unspecified bass instrument

Year of composition:

2004

Duration:

15'

FunFact:

Shortlisted for the Gaudeamus prize in 2006

Program note:

The instruments that interest me most are those free from the burden of romantic tradition. Among these, I'm especially attracted to the melodica, an instrument I'm regularly playing myself. After having written two brief works for the instrument, a solo piece and a duo, I felt that the next logical step was to create a more large-scale work, both in terms of duration and ensemble size. This wish resulted in a tightly structured fifteen minute piece for eight amplified melodicas, bass instrument (unspecified) and hi-hat, characterized by high energy and relentless rhythmic drive. Though taxing to play, it is above all a joyful and optimistic piece.

View an excerpt from the score:

Listen to an excerpt from the piece:

Performed by Miako Klein, Carolina Mayrhofer, Maria Martinez, Amy Power, Belen Nieto Galan, Roberto Genova, Hester Groenler, Guido de Flaviis and Paula Chico. Conductor: Jos Zwaanenburg

Performances:

7th Jun 2005
Royal College of Music (Stockholm, Sweden)
Mikael Gillefalk, Magnus Andersson, Catarina Forss, Hanna Gustafsson, Weiwei Jin, Malene Bay‑Landin, Fabian Svensson, Bolla Henriksson, Fredrik Gran, Mikael Nilsson, Conductor: Jayce Ogren
4th Sep 2006
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Miako Klein, Carolina Mayrhofer, Maria Martinez, Amy Power, Belen Nieto Galan, Roberto Genova, Hester Groenler, Guido de Flaviis, Paula Chico, Conductor: Jos Zwaanenburg
11th Nov 2017
Resonanzraum (Hamburg, Germany)
Benjamin Gordon, Jennifer Hymer, Ninon Gloger, Fanny Vicens, Steven Tanoto, Sofi Natalia, Fabian Svensson, Bernhard Fograscher, Michel Blümel, Tom Postel

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