Anna Clyne: This Midnight Hour
Context
Grammy Award nominated composer Anna Clyne was born in 1980 in London. She formally studied music at the University of Edinburgh for her BMus, and then at the Manhattan School of Music for her MA degree in music. She has received tutelage from the likes of Julia Wolfe and Marjan Mozetich.
Clyne was named composer in residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra alongside contemporary composer Mason Bates in 2010. After completing her four year extended tenure with the CSO, Clyne took up residencies with the Orchestre national d’Île de France (2014-16) and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2015-16).
Her Grammy Award nomination came in 2015 in the ‘Best Contemporary Classical Composition’ category for her double violin concerto, Prince of Clouds. Alongside this, Clyne has also won a number of awards including the prestigious Charles Ives Prize (2010) and the Hindemith Prize (2016).
Clyne’s catalogue of compositions is full of different genres, collaborations and unique twists and turns.This Midnight Hour was composed in 2015 for the Orchestre national d’Île de France and was inspired by two poems.
The Poems
Poem I
iLa musica;
-mujer desnuda,
corriendo loca por la noche pura!
– Juan Ramón Jiménez
Poem II
Voici venir les temps où vibrant sur sa tige
Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir;
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir;
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir;
Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige;
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir.
Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige,
Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir!
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir;
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige.
Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir,
Du passé lumineux recueille tout vestige!
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige…
Ton souvenir en moi luit comme un ostensoir!
Charles Baudelaire – Harmonie du Soir
The Music
The driving opening led by the lower strings is described by Clyne:
“The opening to This Midnight Hour is inspired by the character and power of the lower strings of L’Orchestre national d’Île de France. From here, it draws inspiration from the two poems. Whilst it is not intended to depict a specific narrative, my intention is that it will evoke a visual journey for the listener.”
The constant rumbling creates tension and a mysterious foreboding atmosphere. Clyne’s use of dramatic dynamics and unique textures and timbres sits at the core of This Midnight Hour, with each twist and turn proving an exciting development. From deathly quiet sections to full tutti proclamations, the drama of the piece is thrilling. A big orchestral flourish during the central section is supported by dark lower strings and brass, who create a dark aura around the piece. These quick changes are handled with care and are utilised to their maximum potential. The brass lead into the coda with a delicate chorale that leads to the quiet end (except one loud bang!) of This Midnight Hour.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… Anna Clyne: Night Ferry
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