Persichetti: Divertimento / Masquerade / Parable Ix

Featuring

David Amos
London Symphony Orchestra Wind and Percussion Ensemble
Vincent Persichetti

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Historical Context

During the mid-20th century, symphonic bands and wind ensembles flourished in US high schools and colleges, encouraging leading American composers to create new repertoire for the medium.

Composer Biography

Vincent Persichetti, a central figure in American musical life, taught composition at the Juilliard School for forty years and authored the widely used text, "Twentieth Century Harmony."

Recording & Production

Conductor David Amos chose London for this recording due to its rich musical talent and logistical ease, selecting the London Symphony Orchestra for its outstanding musicians.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Vincent Persichetti advocated for a broad musical vocabulary, or 'common practice,' that assimilated all 20th-century materials and techniques, despite the stylistic divisions among American composers of his time.

Composer Biography

Vincent Persichetti's fondness for wind instruments began early; his Opus 1, composed at age fourteen, was a "Serenade for Ten Winds."

Compositional Technique

Many of Vincent Persichetti's band compositions, like "Psalm" and "Pageant," are utilitarian, written for various practical performance contexts, yet maintain high standards of taste and quality.

Performer Biography

Conductor David Amos specializes in introducing lesser-known works and composers, having conducted and recorded over 150 compositions on more than 32 compact discs, with only five from the standard repertoire.