Gwyneth Walker

Overture of Diamonds

for Orchestra (2001)

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Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of a performance of this work by the 2002 Vermont All-State Music Festival Orchestra, Kate Tamarkin, conductor.
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of a performance of this work by the Southwest Missouri State University Orchestra, Robert Quebbeman, conductor.

Download an MP3 file of a performance of this work by the Southwest Missouri State University Orchestra, Robert Quebbeman, conductor.

View/download a perusal PDF file of the full score of this orchestral work.


Commissioned by the 2002 Vermont All State Music Festival Orchestra to commemorate the Festival's 75th anniversary

This music is inspired by images of diamonds. There are four sections, each with a central image:

1. Cutting Diamonds
angular, constructing chords of fourths
a "splitting" motive of a semi-tone
repeated "hammering" accents on the downbeats
glistening D Major triads at the cadences

2. Transparent Diamonds
a sparse texture, allowing the light to shine through
cascading patterns in the winds
tremoli and trills in the strings
waves of sound

3. Dancing Diamonds
Clarinet and Percussion
the joy and sparkle of diamonds
"dots of energy" from the Viola and Piccolo
everyone joins in the dance, which grows into --

4. Jubilant Diamonds
the return of the opening materials (4ths) now generating a melody in the brass
rapid figures in the strings and winds create a flurry of celebration and excitement
the "Transparent Diamonds" theme returns, forcefully, leading to the final statement of the "splitting" motive (semitones, accented)

Notes by the composer