Description
A Polytechnic Overture (B39)
This piece was written to celebrate the granting of polytechnic status to the Humberside College of Higher Education in 1990. Intended to be a moderately easy piece for a good amateur
orchestra, it employs MANY TECHNIQUES of composition.
Opening in Neo-Classical style, it moves firstly to minimalism, then to a pop ballad. After a short reprise of the minimalist section, there are four aleatoric sections where individual players improvise within the notational limits set out by the composer, with duration set by the conductor. The overture end with a short fugal section interrupted by two hymn-like passages, and the miniscule coda, reverting to the opening tempo, ends with a passing reference to Gaudeamus Igitur, used by Brahms in his Academic Festival Overture.
The zip file contains score and parts