Adoration for String Orchestra ~ Conductors Score  Ref: JM39SC

Adoration' is a highly romantic work, full of special tenderness, producing many beautiful and relaxing moments. It was conceived as an instrumental song or lyrical piece. Although the work is not specifically religious as such, the 'heavenly' feeling portrays a highly spiritual ambience - one might point out here the long extensive melodic phrasings and the personal treatment of the string instruments. However, where this work differs from being perhaps considered as a lighter 'salon' piece is in the emotional depth of the intense passages where we encounter more of a 'weightier' symphonic outpouring, deeper and more anguished. The principal melody of the work is at first presented by the 2nd Violins, and repeated with 'cantabile' imitations from the 1st Violins. The first 'intense' section is principally a dialogue between the 1st Violins and Cellos, before a return is made the tranquility of the first section. However, this peace is interrupted in the space of only a few bars by a fast-rising crescendo to a new intense section, even more powerful this time, soaring to a powerful climax, before passing for the last time to the tranquility which opened the piece, and thus to a most serene conclusion. The string writing is not especially complicated, even to medium level string players, but does sound an accomplished piece in the hands of professionals – it has already been performed half a dozen times by professional orchestras in the last couple of years; but also has been equally programmed very successfully by youth and amateur orchestras. It makes a sensible selection for orchestras of Conservatoires, Colleges etc. for the melodic interest of each part, and the need for every musician to temper their individual intonation around all of the other section players, and, of course, with the other instrumental sections alongside. The duration of the work is a little over six minutes, making it an easy insertion alongside longer romantic works or other string repertoire.