Dance of Life
Instrumentation: Violin and Contrabass
Duration: 8 minutes
Commission: premiered by Gary and Eugene Levinson on Dec. 19, 1989 in the Juilliard Theater, New York.
Recorded by: Gary and Eugene Levinson on the Cala label, CACD 0507
Movements: I. Andante con espressione (4")
II. Allegretto (4")
_____________________________________________________________________________________
|
__________________________________________________________________________
About Dance of Life:
The unusual combination of violin and double bass provides a musical range comparable to an orchestra. In composing Dance of Life, on the one hand, I tried to exploit the homogeneity of the string sound by placing the two instruments in the same register, while, on the other, I emphasized their differences by employing wider separation. The task of blending the two instruments, which at times are more than five octaves apart, is a challenge both for the composer and the performers. In the recording, the work benefits from the musicianship and virtuosity of Gary and Eugene Levinson to whom it is dedicated.
In Dance of Life, I was inspired by the dramatic lyricism and mystical imagery of a poem written by the great Persian lyric poet Hafiz (c. 1320-90). The poem is a celebration of life and expression of human emotions. For me the poetry created an intellectual atmosphere, and stimulated my creative process.
Waiting, straining to hear- your voice that I may rise.
I am heaven’s dove that from the earthly cage will rise.
If I am bid but to be your slave I gladly shall foreswear
Dominion over worldly things as now I rise.
Let the rain fall from your cloud of grace, oh Lord;
Before, to dust I would be changed-I rise.
Bring a minstrel to my grave and a bottle of good wine. Your fragrance presence
Shall lift me dancing full of joy as I rise.
Hold high your lordly stature that I may see. You draw me nigh.
With clapping hands I leave this life, and I rise.
Though I am old yet in a night-from your embrace
In Dawn’s new light a youth will rise.
On the day that I die, a glimpse of you may I behold and, as Hafez
From life’s desire leap into eternity, and I will rise!
Translated by Michael Boylan - Mage Publications Inc.
Reviews:
"... a striking work that seems able to accommodate the various timbral possibilities of the bass without any feeling of awkwardness." Joann Talbot, The strad
"Rarely have I seen a composer successfully capture the essence of the bass, as did Behzad Ranjbaran in Dance of Life."
-Rick Vizachero, Bass World
"Opening with an excellent new piece, Dance of Life by Iranian émigré Behzad Ranjbaran…"
-Simon Woolf, Double Bassist
|