Stephen Paulus’ Concertante: Vibrant Instrumental Conversations
The concertante is the most democratic of musical forms. Blending symphony and concerto, it opens the door to a vibrant, free-flowing musical conversation among solo instrumental voices and groups of instruments. The distinct persona of each instrument comes sharply into focus. Exhibiting brilliance and virtuosity, every voice gets its moment in the spotlight.* American composer Stephen Paulus (1949-2014) embraced all of this in his simply titled Concertante, written in 1989. Exuberant, playful, and …