Post on 05-May-2020
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Preview
(2013)
by Matthew C. Saunders
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2013)
Over the past twenty years, I have composed four pieces in the concertante tradition (trombone and string orchestra, and one each for
trombone, clarinet and classical guitar with wind ensemble), with only one bearing the name “concerto” (and that piece belonging
firmly to my “juvenilia”). After my experience writing my Piano Sonata (2010), I feel prepared to tackle a genre that has
intrigued me from the beginnings of my interest in classical music. The composer attempting to write a twenty-first century piano
concerto has a plethora of examples and artistic models to serve as guide. I intend to adopt no particular piece or composer to this
end, but the Romantic ideal of the pianist as individual against the society of the orchestra holds a great deal of importance to my
own thinking about the genre. In my own worldview, however, there is not a stark divide between society and the individual—
each is dependent on the other, often unwittingly, and frequently unwillingly, and therein lies the conflict inherent in the concerto
as a form and, of course, in life generally. I have explored an explicitly-outlined programmatic version of this in my work
Daytime Drama (2010) for clarinet and wind ensemble, in which the soloist plays the role of a soap-opera heroine who is
consistently at the mercy of society and of the events that surround her. In this new piece, I hope to allow the soloist to participate
more as an individual who effects change rather than being affected by it. The piece I intend to write, then, will in many ways
look backward—as a piano concerto must to a certain extent—while couching the problem of the individual in society in my
personal compositional language, which holds rhythm and motive over harmony and theme while emphasizing above all
playability and appeal to both performer and listener.
I am pleased to partner on this project with a performer whose work I admire and trust, Avguste Antonov. Mr. Antonov has presented
brilliant performances of my compositions on multiple occasions, including both my Piano Sonata and my cycle of solo piano
pieces Starry Wanderers (2008), in venues around the country. This concerto has been my major compositional project for 2013,
and the potential of multiple performances of the piece by Mr. Antonov and his orchestral collaborators is very exciting,
representing an important next step in my compositional development. Information on his work can be found at
www.avgusteantonov.com.
The present score is not the completed piece, but rather is meant as a preview or “teaser” of the complete work. In addition to the
approximately six minutes of music presented here, another fourteen remain in short score, to be orchestrated in the coming
months, with premiere performances anticipated for the 2014-2015 season. There may be changes to the piece. In particular, it is
my practice to delay decisions about percussion until the end of the process. The percussion instruments present may be joined by
others, although I will retain a section of timpani plus two. Similarly, I have not made final decisions about score layout.
There are two movements to the concerto played without pause, and this score includes the beginning of the first movement and the
middle portion of the second movement, leading to a cadenza for the soloist.
Matthew C. Saunders has taught music from kindergarten to college in styles from madrigal to mariachi, and strives to make
beautiful music for and with captivating people. He has climbed mountains, saved someone’s life, and watched the moon rise over
the prairie. He has loved, lost, and loved again; helped friends find salvation, and found it for himself as well; taught genius
students, and learned from genius teachers. On the day his son Noah was born, he gave him his first shampoo, and looks forward
to teaching him to catch a baseball and ride a bicycle sometime around 2015. His dreams are to walk on Mars, hear a grand piano
fall into an orchestra pit, make more people laugh than cry, and love his wife Becky passionately and forever. He plays trombone
and is always getting better at playing piano, and in the course of a long, love-filled, productive life, he wants to compose the
Great American Symphony, ride the rails, hike the trails, read all of the good books, finally watch The Godfather, and storm the
castles in the air. He will never write unlistenable music, stop stargazing or lose money in Vegas. He doesn’t call his mother
often enough, but he still tries to do a good turn daily. He is always up for a few hands of euchre or a good game of chess, likely
winning the former and losing the latter.
Dr. Saunders is music department chair at Lakeland Community College, where he directs the Lakeland Civic Orchestra. He
previously held the position of Associate Professor of Music at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He received degrees in
music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University, where his teachers
included Donald Harris, Jan Radzynski, Thomas Wells and Joseph Duchi. Dr. Saunders’ music has been performed across the
country, and he has presented his research on rhythm at conferences of the College Music Society and the Society of Composers.
He received the 2007 Ruth Friscoe Prize for composition and is the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association 2011 Commissioned
Composer, and his one-minute orchestral piece What It’s Like will be included in Vox Novus’ first 60x60 Orchestra project. He
has published articles in The Journal of Band Research, The Instrumentalist and Music Educators Journal. He is on the web at
www.martiandances.com, but the physical Dr. Saunders lives in Willowick, Ohio with his wife Becky and their son Noah.
Instrumentation: 2 Flutes (2nd doubling piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B-flat
2 Bassoons
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
3 Trombones (2 tenor, one bass)
Tuba
Timpani
2 Additional Percussionists (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle)
Solo Piano
Strings
Contact Information Matthew C. Saunders
257 East 286th Street
Willowick, Ohio 44095
(580)461-1617
matthew@martiandances.com
www.martiandances.com
Copyright © 2013 www.martiandances.com
All Rights Reserved
1Flutes
2
1Oboes
2
1Clarinets in Bb
2
1Bassoons
2
1Horns in F
3
2Horns in F
4
1Trumpets in C
2
1Trombones
2
Bass TromboneTuba
Timpani
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
PIANO SOLO
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Violoncello
Double Bass
fp fp
Allegro non troppo (h=88)
f f fp f f fp f f
f f fp f f fp f f
ff ff ff
f f f f
f f f f
ff ff ff
p p
f f
Allegro non troppo (h=88)
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff ff ff
MATTHEW C. SAUNDERS (2013)
Transposing ScoreMvt. 1 (Excerpt)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)for Avguste Antonov
a2
a2
a2
a2
Tuba
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
3 3
3 3
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
molto rit. Quasi cadenza molto meno mosso6
f fp
fp fp
f
f
ff f pleading
molto rit. Quasi cadenza molto meno mosso
mp
mp mp
mp mp
ffp mp fp
f fp mp fp
a2
To Bass Drum
(sul D)
(sul G)
(sul G)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
2
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
fp f
13
f
p f
sfz mp
p f
p f
f secco
f secco
f mp sfz ff meno fsfz
mp pp fp ff
pp fp ff
pp fp ff
mp fp ff ff
mp fp ff ff
a2
B. Tbn.
Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals To Bass Drum
3
non div.
non div.
non div.
pizz.
pizz.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
3
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
21
sfz mp
sfz mp
ff meno fsfz
ff
ff
3 35
3 3
3
pizz.
pizz.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
4
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
stringendo (h=80)28
ff
stringendo (h=80)
sfz
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
5
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mp
35
mf
mp
p
p
sfz ff staccato e con forza
,mf flowing, legato
sfz
mf
mf
mf
mf
mf
a2
1.
a2
5
5
arco
arco
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
6
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mp ff
(e=e)43
mp ff
ff
f ff
p
p
p
p
p
ff
sfz p
sfz
(e=e)
mf f ff
mf f ff
mf f ff
mf f ff
f ff
a2
a2
a2
a2
Snare Drum
6 5
6 6
(loco)
6
5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
7
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
fp fp
(e=e) Tempo primo (h=88)49
f f fp f f fp
f f fp f f fp
ff ff
sfz f f f f f sfz p
sfz f f f f f sfz p
sfz f sfz p
sfz f sfz p
sfzf
ff p p
f f
f f ff martellato, brittle
(e=e) Tempo primo (h=88)
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff fp ff fp ff
ff ff ff
flutter-tongue
flutter-tongue
flutter-tongue
a2
a2
a2
a2
a2
a2
To Triangle
Bass Drum
3 3
3 3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
8
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
55
f sfz p f sfz p f sfz p
f sfzp f sfz p f sfz p
f sfz p f sfz p f sfz p
f sfzp f sfz p f sfz p
f secco
f
f
f
f
f
Bass Drum
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
9
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
60
f
f f
f
mp
mp
a2
a2
1.
2.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
10
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
65
f f
f
f
f
f
f f sfz
ff
f f
f f
f f
f f
f
a2
a2 3
a2
a2
3
arco
3
arco
arco
(pizz.) arco
3
(pizz.)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
11
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
71
f
f fp
f
fp
fp
mf
f f sfz
ff
f
f
f
f
2nd Fl. to Picc.
a2
3
a2
a2
3
1.
2.
Bass Drum
3
3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
12
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mf
77
mf
mf
mf ff
f
f
f ff
f espressivo
mf
mf
1.
1.
a2
To Crash Cymbals
Crash Cymbals
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
13
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mf f
molto rall. Ominous (h=64)82
mf f
mf f
ff
ff p
p
molto rall. Ominous (h=64)
mf f pp
mf f pp
f sfz pp
f sfz pp
f pp
+ Picc.
a2 (Fl. 1 and Picc.)
a2
To Triangle
6 6 6 6
arco
arco
arco
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
14
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mf
f mp
f mp
89
mf
mp
mp
f
mf
mf
f
mf
mf
mp mp
Picc.
1.
Picc.
3
3
3
1.
3
5 3
5
1.
2.
1.
2.
3
3 3
1.
2.
3
3
Triangle
3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
15
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
mf f mf
93
f f
mf
mp
f
mpmf
mf
mp
f
mp
mf
mp
Picc. 1.
3 3
3
3
3
2.
1.
3
3
1.
2.
1.
2.
5
33
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
16
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f mp
96
f p
f
f
sub. ff
mf cantabile
Picc.
3
1.
3
3
3
3
To Snare Drum
3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
17
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f mp
mf
mf
103
mp
mp
f
fmf
mff
f mp
mp f
mp f
f
Picc.
1.
3
3
3
1.5 3
5 3
1.
2.
3
3
1.
2.
3
3
3 3
3
3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
18
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
108
f
f mp mfpp tenderly,
longingly
Picc.
3
3
3
3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
19
1Flutes
2
1Oboes
2
1Clarinets in Bb
2
1Bassoons
2
1Horns in F
3
2Horns in F
4
1Trumpets in C
2
1Trombones
2
Bass TromboneTuba
Timpani
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
PIANO SOLO
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Violoncello
Double Bass
f
[Scherzando (h.=76)]
475
f f
p�glistening
[Scherzando (h.=76)]
f
f
f
f f
f f
f f
a2 (Fl. 1 & Picc).
Mvt. 2 (Excerpt)
secco
non div.
div.
non div.
div.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
20
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
479
f leading
sub. p
Picc. to Fl. 2
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
21
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
483
f
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
22
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
488
subito p
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
23
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
493
f
f
p
p
1.
1.
1.
Snare Drum
Triangle To Bass Drum
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
24
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
497
f
p
a2
Snare Drum
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
25
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f f
501
f f
fp cresc.
p
p
f
f
f
(Fl. 2)
1.
a2
B. Tbn.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
26
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
ff
505
ff
ff
ff
ff fp sfz
ff fp sfz
ff
ff
ff
ff fp ff
fp ff
f f
ff
f f
f f
f f
f f
f f
a2
a2
Tuba
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
To Susp. Cymbal
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
27
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
molto rall. 510
f
f
f
molto rall.
f
f
f
f
f
a2
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
28
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
A tempo (h.=76) molto rall. 514
mp
mp
ff mf f ff
mp mf f ff
mpmf f ff
mf f ff
mf f ff
mf f ff
fp
ff
A tempo (h.=76)molto rall.
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
a2
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
29
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
Molto meno mosso con licenza (h.=56)520
f
pp
ffp quasi-echo
pp
p cantabile
Molto meno mosso con licenza (h.=56)
Susp. Cymbalyarn mallet To Triangle
non div.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
30
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
529
p pp
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
31
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
pp pp
rall. A tempo (h.=56)
537
pp pp
pp pp
pp pp
p sotto voce
rall. A tempo (h.=56)
pp pp
pp pp
1.
1.
1.
1.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
32
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
pp
543
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
33
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
548
pp pp
pp pp
p
pp pp
pp pp
1.
1.
2.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
34
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
f
555
f
f
pp f
pp f
pp ff
pp ff
pp ff
pp ff
ff
a2
a2
(3. senza sordino)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
35
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
561
pp
p cresc. mf
ff pp
ff pp
ff pp
ff pp
ff p
Snare Drum
pizz.
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
36
Fls.
Obs.
Cls.
Bsns.
1Hns.
3
2Hns.
4
Tpts.
1Tbns.
2
B. Tbn.Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
PNO.
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vc.
Db.
pp p pp
566
mf poco f
pp
fz pp
fz pp
fz pp
fz pp
1.
1.
Triangle
6'13"
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Preview)/Saunders
37