Ian Wilson
The Capsizing Man and Other Stories
Duration: 22'
Instrumentation details:
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
contrabass
Wilson - The Capsizing Man and Other Stories for string orchestra
Work introduction
I wrote this piece (in its original version for string quartet) after seeing works by the Swiss sculptor and painter Alberto Giacometti. I chose five sculptures and looked for a central musical idea in each one that would form the basis of a movement.
The five movements are not just separate and distinct pieces; to me they are also five different aspects of life itself. From the tragic nature of The Capsizing Man and the more cinematographic, haunted character of The Forest to The Chariot, full of dark energy and motion and the almost humorous, episodic quality of The Cat. Seated Woman was composed last of all, and is subtitled "Interlude" – four movements felt unbalanced to me and this ephemeral piece, a little homage to Feldman, was the vital missing ingredient.
Ian Wilson