Work
The Butcher of Brisbane : Carnival for solo saxophone(s) and chamber ensemble
by Nicholas Vines (2006)
Audio Sample
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Performance by Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury, Eliot Gattegno from the CD Torrid nature scenes |
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Work Overview
The Butcher of Brisbane draws its inspiration from 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang', a 1977 story arc from the long-running BBC television series, Doctor Who. In this scenario, a cornucopia of material and intellectual artifacts from all sorts of real and imaginary times and places are made to work together to form a (more-or-less) coherent narrative. This carnivalesque quality provides the basic rationale for The Butcher of Brisbane, through both abstract concepts of syntax, and the musical, linguistic, aural and visceral content of the original drama. Similarly, the story's anti-hero, at one time or another a ghost, a god and a megalomaniac, dictates the character of the solo part. The relationship between saxophone and ensemble, furthermore, reflects this villain's vain struggle to impose his own 'pure' agenda on the aesthetic, scientific and ethical menagerie of his surroundings.
Work Details
Year: 2006
Instrumentation: Solo alto/tenor/baritone saxophone, flute (doubling piccolo), Bb clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), percussion (2 players), piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass.
Duration: 22 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — Professional, new-music specialist
Contents note: 1. Prologue -- 2. Act I: Magnus Creel -- 3. Interlude I -- 4. Act II: Weng Chiang -- 5. Interlude II -- 6. Act III: Theatre Spook -- 7. Epilogue.
Dedication note: Dedicated to Eliot Gattegno, Stephen Drury, and Callithumpian Consort.
Commission note: By Eliot Gattegno, Stephen Drury, and Callithumpian Consort.
First performance: by Eliot Gattegno, White Rabbit (Musical group) — 22 Apr 06. John Knowles Paine Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA
Draws its inspiration from 'The talons of Weng-Chiang', a series of episodes from the BBC television series Doctor Who.
Analysis
Resonate article: Insight: Hipster Zombies from Mars by Nicholas Vines
Performances of this work
21 Jun 16: Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory. Featuring Philipp Stäudlin, Stephen Drury, Callithumpian Consort.
12 Mar 08: Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory. Featuring Eliot Gattegno, Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury.
21 Jun 07: Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory. Featuring Eliot Gattegno, Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury.
22 Apr 06: John Knowles Paine Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA. Featuring White Rabbit (Musical group), Eliot Gattegno.
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