Piano Concerto No.2

Piano Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (2009) by Poul Ruders.

Piano Solo and Orchestral Reduction.

Dedicated Becky Starobin. Written for Vassily Primakov.

Commissioned by The Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Jerome Lowenthal.

Programme Note

In this day and age, when faced with the challenge of writing a'Piano Concerto', e.g. a piece for symphony orchestra and an all-dominating and virtuosic solo Piano part, one has two options: either: DO, or do NOT go for it wholesale, exploiting and enjoying the conrnucopia ofsonoroustreasures offered by the combination of the orchestra and the 'Grand Piano'. I have opted to go for it. When writing for one of our great young international Piano stars, it would be absurd, and a waste, to do anythingless and only 'nibble at the goodies'.

However, the piece is not a big, clunky 'machine'. Rather it is a transparently orchestrated neo-classic (for the lack of a better work) composition in three movements, lastignapproximately 25 minutes.

The piece begins with a moderately paced opening, in which the Piano gradually gathers momentum and strength, beginning with the most gentle of motifs. In this movement the soloist andorchestra fo not always agree, and the vigilant listener will observe the disparity between the two. Following a swift, up-beat coda, the movement stops, almost in mid-breath, on one of the gentle Piano chords taken from the veryopening.

The extreme simplicity of the second movement, 'Semplice' (the opening Piano solo bears the marking: 'slightly hesitant - like a child practicing') is, after having been joined by the Vibraphone, Harp and soloViolin, suddenly violated with unprecedented brutality by the rest of the orchestra, which virtually 'lies in wait - panting to pounce'. But eventually calm and order is restored.

The finale is a crazy rondo of sorts.