Another Opening - MVSR2527 | Music

Austrian composer Fritz Neuböck sees a considerable danger to the progressiveness of wind music in a widespread "blinkered" attitude which is unable to liberate itself from "old-fashioned structures". He himself formulates his intention in the following way: "Keeping up traditions does not mean guarding the ashes but rather carrying on the flame."

In "Another Opening" Neuböck reverts to entertaining dance-like and rhythmic modes of expression such as we also know from the music of Klaus-Peter Bruchmann, for example. The orchestra is brilliantly employed as a musical bearer of ideas. Imaginativeness, movement structure and orchestration are masterly and also convincing in their correlation to the theme chosen by the composer.

The work is humorous and lively in its conception, and could also be described as a concerto-type scherzo. The beginning is marked by an opening prelude in which the thematic material on the basis of a rising five-note sequence is introduced and immediately and effectively reworked in close counterpoint. The songlike section which follows receives an additional "drive" through the syncopated interjections of the accompanying instruments. A recapitulation of the initial scherzo leads into the really cantabile section of the piece. Beautiful woodwind soli and particularly a wonderful alto saxophone solo lend this passage a rather dreamy character which, however, soon intensifies and expands into a more elevated sound. In the renewed scherzando the various instruments are drawn together into a bright musical dialogue before the work comes to an exhilarating and vigorous close.

"Another Opening" is a technically demanding but light-hearted work at an advanced level of difficulty which is suitable for any concert programme. It is worth emphasizing that the piece foregoes any spurious "philosophical profoundness" to create an impression of youthful freshness and happiness.