Finding Rothko is a composition for chamber orchestra by the American composer Adam Schoenberg.
Composition
Background
Schoenberg composed
Finding Rothko in 2006 while pursuing his doctoral studies at the
Juilliard School. The composer was inspired to write the piece after experiencing the paintings of the abstract expressionist artist
Mark Rothko on a visit to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Finding Rothko marked Schoenberg's first professional commission as a composer, and he was assisted in arranging the work for chamber orchestra by Michael Stern.
[Adam Schoenberg (2006). Program Notes: Finding Rothko. Retrieved August 28, 2017.]
Structure
Finding Rothko has a duration of approximately 16 minutes and is cast in four movements named after the primary colors used in four different Rothko paintings:
-
Orange
-
Yellow
-
Red
-
Wine
Instrumentation
The work is scored for a chamber orchestra consisting of two flutes (both doubling
piccolo), two
(second doubling
cor anglais), two
(second doubling
bass clarinet), two
(second doubling
contrabassoon), two
French horn, two
,
piano (doubling
celesta), two percussionists, and
String section.
Reception
Reviewing a 2011 performance of
Finding Rothko at the Aspen Music Festival, Harvey Steiman of
The Aspen Times praised the work's "colorful orchestration, rich textures and a sense of power and inevitability similar to that which invests the painter's work." He added, "This was highly listenable music, rewarding to apprehend, especially in the broad outlines of the final section's glowing climax."
Recording
A recording of the
Finding Rothko featuring the Kansas City Symphony under the direction of Michael Stern was released through Reference Recordings
[2] on January 20, 2017. The album also includes performances of Schoenberg's
American Symphony (2011) and
Picture Studies (2012).
