4 Romantic Sketches

4 Brief Classical Romantic Sketches for orchestra by Hugh Cain
Program notes:
I: Opens with a dramatic flourish which eventually dissipates into the main theme … winds and piano are featured … and a slow calming cadence … just before the introduction of a lively new theme introduced contrapuntally by the string section leading to a brief percussive statement by the brass and then a slow unwinding with a solo French Horn offering a condensation of the opening theme and then a quick and cute finale.
II: opens with the muted horn section restating the theme from the conclusion to sketch # I which leads to the main theme … romantic in nature could have been included on the old “Tonight We Love” album from the late 50s. Concludes establishing a sad and unrequited mood to set up the next sketch.
III: opens with a “classical” allegro orchestration in the strings to setup the entrance of the piano solo; after the piano feature the classical orchestra returns to recap the opening mood … which leads to the next piano solo … only this time the piano joins with the orchestra to create a newer version of the “allegro” with a swapping of themes between the two until they begin the gradual slowing down with solos in the horn and flute to quietly finish.
Iv: opens with harp and strings, irregular rhythmical flow which settles down when the Horn announces the main theme; the Solo Piano is then featured for the rest of the piece simmering over a slowly brooding tangoesque accompaniment … which finally dissolves into the allegro section …. but of course the allegro has to start slowly and gradually unwind for full effect. There is a slowing down again to prepare the way for the finale which is quite final.
My brother-in-law, Pierre LaPlante … recently deceased , proclaimed upon hearing this “sketch” that it reminded him of the Czerny exercises from his youth … he was a wonderful pianist and composer … may he rest in peace.
Finally, my mother had a recording that I can almost remember … something like “Tonight we love” … which I use to listen to on occasion when I was in Junior High School. Once again I would like to give her credit as my muse for greatly influencing all of my musical compositions .
Thanks for listening.
Hugo Cain