(Heinrich Biber arr. Tom Coult)
Biber’s Rosary Sonatas were written, like many of my own recent pieces, for retuned violin. The Agony in the Garden is a stunning example of his lyrical beauty and instrumental audacity – a favourite of both mine and Daniel Pioro’s, for and with whom this orchestration was written.
Daniel made his own immaculately-judged voicings of the continuo part, to suit his playing and interpretation. I then ‘coloured in’ his beautiful line drawings, orchestrating and in some cases adding extra materials.
Instrumentation:
solo violin & chamber orchestra: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.0, hp, strings (suggested 4.3.2.2.1)
Duration:
10 mins
Commission:
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3
Performances:
19 May 2021
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with Daniel Pioro, Ryan McAdams (cond.)
BBC MediaCity, Salford, UK
World premiere