Concerto for Timpani and Band (Jacob)

General Info

Year: 1988
Duration: 00:12:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: G & M Brand
Cost: Score and Parts - $130.00 | Score Only - $25.00

Movements

Instrumentation

Soloist

Timpani

Band

Program Notes

Gordon Jacob wrote his Concerto for Timpani in 1984 and it was to be the last major work that he wrote before he died. It was written for a professional wind group in Konstanz (West Germany) and the first performance was given there in June 1984 with the soloist Klaus Huber (to whom it is dedicated) conducted by Douglas Bostock.

In the first movement, a broad theme is announced by the timpani themselves based on a rising succession of thirds, and immediately echoed and modified by the full wind band. After a bridge, when the material is embroidered by woodwinds, the theme is presented in an inverted and varied form by the soloist before being developed. Unlike a Classical development in which tonality provides the tension, the nature of the timpani means that the development is rhythmic rather than tonal. To modulate extensively would obviously present problems even with pedal timpani. A recapitulation follows and a quasi cadenza leads to a strong close.

The second movement (Adagio) is virtually an aria. The timpani carry the melody throughout, embellished and them embroidered by small groups of instruments presented in choirs. Jacob, the masterful orchestrator, allows only four bars of full band. By the end of only 47 bars, we are left with an expressive mood conjured from the timpani themselves.

The last movement is a romp - displaying Jacob's English roots: his characteristic use of quasi-folk material is well suited to the band and the rhythmic characteristics of the timpani are highlighted.

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