June 30, 2008
Michael Ellison has been commissioned by the BBC to compose a work for symphony orchestra and traditional Turkish ensemble to serve as the finale to the BBC Symphony Orchestra‘s Diverse Orchestras Week: Discovering the Music of Turkey, 2008. The world premiere performance of the commissioned work by Ellison will be heard on 21 November, 2008, in two concerts at Maida Vale Studios in London. This is the first time in the history of the BBC SO’s Diverse Orchestras project that a finale piece has been commissioned, and is the first known UK commission to use such musical forces.
The work is to be approximately 10′, for the following instrumentation:
3(2nd/Alto, 3rd/picc).3(3rd/CA).3(2nd/Eb,3rd/B).3(3rd/contra)
4.3.3.1.
1T.3-4P.1H
Strings: 16.14.12.10.8.
Ali Tüfekçi Ensemble:
Ali Tüfekçi, Ney
Furkan Bilgi, kemençe
Halil Karaduman, Kanun
Mete Aslan, Ud
Türker Çolak, Bendir
The remainder of the program will feature both 20th century and contemporary Turkish and Istanbul-based composers, as well as a ‘fusion ensemble’ consisting of members of the BBCSO and Ali Tüfekçi’s traditional Turkish ensemble. These programs and the world premiere will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Michael Ellison 