English composer Judith Weir’s Heroic Strokes of the Bow (“Heroische Bogenstriche”) was inspired by a work of twentieth century art.
The Swiss-born artist Paul Klee’s 1938 work of the same title, currently displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, is a blue and black painting on pink newspaper. “Said to be a tribute to the famous violinist Adolph Busch, whom Klee knew personally, it seems to show a simple pattern of violin bows and pegs against a hypnotic blue background,” the composer writes. Klee himself was a violinist, and his paintings have inspired many other composers.
Describing her dynamic 1992 work for chamber orchestra, Weir writes,
My piece is not principally meant as a depiction of the picture, but rather as a literal response to the title, with its suggestions of excessive physical energy applied to a small piece of wood. Accordingly, energetic violins predominate throughout the piece’s 15-minute duration. The first part of the piece builds up a restless momentum; a twittering ensemble of lower woodwinds finally puts the brakes on, leading to a broad, spacious close.
Scored for the classical orchestra of Haydn and Mozart, Heroic Strokes of the Bow is filled with vibrant instrumental conversations. At moments, there are echoes of the glistening colors which open Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes.
Recordings
- Weir: Heroic Strokes of the Bow, Martyn Brabbins, BBC Symphony Orchestra Amazon
Featured Image: “Heroic Strokes of the Bow,” Heroische Bogenstriche (1938), Paul Klee