Four Essays for Orchestra (Cztery Eseje) is an orchestral composition by Polish composer Tadeusz Baird written in 1958. It was prized in the 1959 UNESCO Rostrum of Composers, the first of three works by Baird to attain this distinction, and it also won the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition.[1] The first performance of this work took place at the second Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1960, performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic conducted by Witold Rowicki.[2] Each of the four movements is scored for different instrumental combinations, and they are marked as follows:
- Molto adagio
- Allegretto grazioso
- Allegro
- Molto adagio (improvisando e rubato)
Essay 1 is orchestrated for string (frequently solo), and two harps. Essay 2 is scored for woodwind, timpani, percussion, celesta, xylophone, two harps, piano and strings. The 3rd essay is written for brass, timpani, percussion, bells, xylophone, celesta and two pianos. The 4th essay uses woodwind, timpani, celesta, two harps, two pianos and strings.[2]
Discography
edit- Warsaw Philharmonic – Witold Rowicki. Muza[3] (later reissued by Philips[4]).
References
edit- ^ Biography in culture.pl
- ^ a b Jacobson, Bernard. Baird* – Four Essays / Expressions For Violin And Orchestra / Variations Without A Theme (LP) (Liner notes). Modern Music Series. Philips. A 02388 L. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024.
- ^ Lutosławski / Serocki / Baird – Muzyka Żałobna / Sinfonietta Na Dwie Orkiestry Smyczkowe / Cztery Eseje. Polskie Nagrania Muza. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024.
- ^ Baird* – Four Essays / Expressions For Violin And Orchestra / Variations Without A Theme. Philips. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024.
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