CHAMBER » Such Sweet Sorrow

Instrumentation:	String Orchestra
Duration:	15’

Programme Notes

In many ways, I consider Such Sweet Sorrow to be a companion piece to another work I wrote for Winnipeg audiences eight years ago, Saudades. Both pieces were written while my life was in a state of flux complete with a change of living location, a change in my personal life, a change of jobs, and a change in the people with whom I socially interacted. In retrospect, I can only assume that I have composed both works to serve as security blankets as I plowed through into a new life. This piece is a personal and melancholic requiem for the life I left behind.

This commission gave me the opportunity to compose my own lyrical Adagio for Strings, a rare treat as most of my work has scored for full orchestra. The piece follows 2 thematic ideas; the first is introduced in the very opening measures of the work, a simple melody that expands over the ensuing 29 measures. The lower strings play the second melody while a solo violin elaborates rhapsodically. With the 2 themes introduced, the piece undergoes a development of these melodic ideas, at times with serenity and calm, at other times with impassioned restlessness.

The middle of the piece features solos for the cello, viola and violin, solos that draw the piece to its climatic statement, a fiery juxtaposition of both the thematic ideas. Gradually, the intensity abates into a brief passage that has some of the players performing out of sync with each other. The piece eventually concludes with the solo violin and cello performing the opening theme in unison.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commissioned Such Sweet Sorrow for the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. The premiere performance was given on February 7^th, 2001 by Roy Goodman and the MCO.

February 2001

Audio Samples

Such Sweet Sorrow

Premiere

February 7, 2001
MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor: Roy Goodman
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada

Subsequent Performances

HURONIA SYMPHONY
March 8, 2009

MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHETRA
June, September 2008
Conductor: Anne Lewis

MONTREAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
October 25, 2007

BRANDON CHAMBER PLAYERS
June 8, 2007
Conductor: Michelle Mourre

BULGARIAN SYMPHONY
November 2006

HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
November 18, 2006
Conductor: Timothy Vernon

VICTORIA SYMPHONY
October 1,2 2006
Conductor: Tania Miller

ORCHESTRA LONDON May 2006 Conductor: Timothy Vernon Centennial Concert Hall London, Ontario Canada	THUNDER BAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA December 6, 2005 Conductor: Geoffrey Moull Thunder Bay Auditorium Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada	EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA September 6, 2003 Conductor: Mario Bernardi Winspear Centre Edmonton, Alberta Canada
BANFF SUMMER FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA August 9, 2003 Conductor: Bramwell Tovey Eric Harvie Theatre Banff, Alberta Canada	MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 5, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Raven’s Cry Theatre Sechelt, British Columbia Canada	MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 5, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Artspring Festival, British Columbia Canada
MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 4, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman White Rock Concerts White Rock, British Columbia Canada	MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 3, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada	MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 2, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Community Concert Association Penticton, British Columbia. Canada
MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA April 1, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Trail, British Columbia Canada	MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA March 30, 2003 Conductor: Roy Goodman Chan Centre Vancouver, British Columbia Canada	KITCHENER-WATERLOO SYMPHONY February 6, 2003 Conductor: Glenn Buhr Glenn Gould Studio Toronto, Ontario Canada

Reviews

Score/Parts Rental

For more information on score and parts rental for Such Sweet Sorrow, contact John Estacio or the Canadian Music Centre.