The piece '…the ground beneath our feet' incorporates diverse influences like salsa, Irish reels, gypsy music, raga, and free jam, all unified by Merula's repeated bass line.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Stravinsky immersed himself in Bach's music while composing 'Dumbarton Oaks,' noting that Bach would have been delighted to 'loan' him musical ideas, as borrowing was common practice for Bach.
Recording & Production
The live recording of this album took place at Dumbarton Oaks, the historic estate where Igor Stravinsky's 'Dumbarton Oaks' Concerto, featured on this album, was named after.
Composition History
Igor Stravinsky's 'Dumbarton Oaks' Concerto was commissioned by Mildred Barnes Bliss, a leading figure in American arts and culture, to celebrate her thirtieth wedding anniversary.
Album & Artwork
This album celebrates the concerto grosso, a musical conversation where two or more instruments lead a dialogue with the larger ensemble, a form rooted in the Baroque period.
Compositional Technique
The Knights' piece, '…the ground beneath our feet,' is based on the Ciaccona by Italian Baroque composer Tarquinio Merula, specifically its four-bar repeated ground bass line.
Performer Biography
Colin Jacobsen, a violinist and composer, is a founding member of two ensembles: the string quartet Brooklyn Rider and the orchestra The Knights, and also tours with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project.
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