Tombeau de Vercingétorix,
par l’Orchestre d’Harmonie de Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (Portugal)
Creation date: November 11, 2022
→ Concert Band
4 Fl. (+ 2 Picc.), 2 Ob., Eng. Hn,
2 Bsns, Cbsn, Eb Cl., Cl. 1-2-3, A. Cl.,
2 Bass Cl., Cb Cl., A. Sax. 1-2, T. Sax., 2 B. Sax.,
4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Cnt, 4 Trb.,
Euph. (div.), Tub. (div.), 2 Cb.,
Harp, Celesta, 5 Perc.
Duration: 15:00
Level: Grade 4-5
Presentation.
Commissioned by the Orchestre d’Harmonie de Clermont-Ferrand, for their 160th anniversary.
This work is conceived as a statue, imposing monument of stone and bronze, impressive and chiseled with details we search carefully; but it also inspires us stories and events which made the principal character sculpted: Vercingétorix. The equestrian statue realized by Bartholdi in Clermont-Ferrand 1903, being the visual reference, the start of that musical imaginary.
The work is then a “tombeau”, a tomb, literally, monumental sculpture to the glory of… But it is inspired by the form “tombeau” from the 18th century, when poets and composers gave hommage to their masters or other important men who had influence on their lives. This free form has been used again in history, notably at early 20th century (“Tombeau de Couperin” by Ravel, for example), and picks up again the original baroque codes. It is how this “Tombeau de Vercingétorix” finds heavily anchored in its construction, harmony, ornementations and articulations of wind instruments, rhythms, this baroque influence… An ancient esthetic in a contemporary language, creating that relation between the monumental sculpture, the equestrian statue, and what it inspires as we contemplate, “listen” to it…
The work has been premiered on November 11th 2022, by the Orchestre d’Harmonie de Clermont-Ferrand, under baton Guillaume Cardot.
