Sinfonietta Op 30 Alan Jones (1935)

I Remembrance: Presto-Andante II Optimism: Allegro

Although the general idea of this piece was conceived some years ago, work in detail fortuitously started at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2005; hence the title and other features of the first movement. The figure 11 occurs in various ways in the music, but a few brief quotations in the brass may make the significance of the date more obvious to the listener. The opening represents the final battle of the War before the reflective slow section. The mood of the second movement is that of post-war optimism.

In writing this piece, I set out to condense the form of a classical symphony into a work lasting not much more than five minutes. The traditional fast opening movement is reduced to an introduction to the main slow movement which is in rondo form. A four-bar minuet (trio) provides a link to the second movement without a break. This is in Classical sonata form ending with a lively coda.

Whilst the form is derived from the Classical style and the piece is scored for Classical orchestra (with the addition of a trombone and use of chromatic tympani), neither rhythm nor harmony follow the Classical tradition. Much of the music is written with unequal beats (7/4 introduction, 5/8 second movement) and, although the harmony is tonal, it does not adhere to the traditional concepts of major and minor.

The work is dedicated to the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra in gratitude for 50 years of enjoyment for me.

Alan Jones