Son of Scherzo
for orchestra
Instrumentation: 2-2-2-2; 2-2-2-0; 3 percussion, harp, piano, strings
Percussion Instruments
Triangle, Splash Cymbal, Medium Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals, Tambourine, Sleighbells, Slapstick, Ratchet, Vibraslap, 2 Woodblocks, Snare Drum, Field Drum, Mounted Kick Drum (or Bass Drum), Hi-Hat, Xylophone, Glockenspiel
Duration: ca. 10 minutes
Year Composed: 2023
Premiered June 22, 2023 at the Palau de la Música (Barcelona) by the Western Washington University Symphony Orchestra
Additional performance by the WWU Symphony (6/23/23) at the José Iturbi Conservatory (Valencia)
Score is 11x17, Parts are 8.5 x 11.
*Use the Rental Inquiry Form for a parts rental quote.
Digital perusal score available upon request.
Program Notes
In 2008, I wrote a work for large orchestra titled Scherzo, which I conceived as a fusion of the many musical features one might find in a work bearing this title: dance, lyricism, whimsy, drama, rhythmic drive, and even humor, as the original Italian meaning of the word suggests. Fifteen years later (and taking a cue from American composer John Adams’ sequel to his Chamber Symphony, which he titled Son of Chamber Symphony), I’m happy to introduce my earlier work’s musical offspring, Son of Scherzo, for a slightly smaller orchestra, but just as lyrical, melodramatic, impulsive, playful, and full of energy as its elder.
— Charles Halka