THE BIG NIGHT (1989) for orchestra by Michael Schelle

(restless dreams before) THE BIG NIGHT (1989)
- by Michael Schelle

Commissioned and premiered by the Kansas City Symphony
William McGlaughlin, music director and conductor

Additional funding from the Barlow Foundation (Salt Lake City)

The piece 'tells the story' of the restless, anxious dreams / nightmares (and prayers) of a young violinist the night before her first ever live performance with a major symphony orchestra playing the infamous (and fiendishly difficult) Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto . . .

. . . in the end, various mutated Tchaikovsky fragments are fused and confused (from c. 10:00 thru 13:30 .. the violin concerto, Nutcracker, Symphony No. 4, etc.) in a headlong race to the big finish - only to be followed by a dream / trance state coda (accompanied by a secret (until the end) upper balcony choir chanting "good night, sleep tight" ... ).

The 15:00 piece is often programmed w/ the Tchaikovsky concerto, as recently w/ the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the 2014/15 Subscription Series concert season of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Michael Schelle's website: http://schellemusic.com/1.html