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Michael Ippolito

Ippolito: Nocturne

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Qualified Noise  |  SKU: QN1021
  • Composer: Michael Ippolito (1985-)
  • Format: Full Score
  • Instrumentation: Orchestra
  • Work: Nocturne (2011) (2.2.2.2—4.2.2.btbn.1—timp.2perc—hp.pf—str)

Description

Premiered in February 2012 by the Juilliard Orchestra under the direction of Jeffrey Milarsky, Nocturne is an orchestral work that originated as a 2010 chamber piece for flute, violin, and piano. The composition was initially inspired by Joan Miró's 1940 painting of the same name, drawing on the tension between the energetic, whimsical nature of the visual art and the traditionally tranquil expectations of a nocturnal subject.

Beyond the painting, the piece explores the broader historical connotations of the title itself. It references various artistic approaches to the genre, acknowledging James McNeill Whistler's atmospheric paintings, the dreamy piano works of Frédéric Chopin and John Field, the colorful compositions of Claude Debussy, and the rustling "night music" of Béla Bartók.

The music unfolds across three large sections. The opening creates a hazy atmosphere where familiar nocturnal imagery floats in and out of focus. This transitions into a wild scherzo directly inspired by the fantastical figures of Miró's canvas. Ultimately, the opening material returns, concluding with a brief musical nod to Chopin before the sound gradually evaporates into silence.