Blue Christmas

The piece takes the form of a counterpoint of counterpoints and is characterised by the copious presence within it of themes and musical fragments belonging to different Christmas traditions. The motifs, superimposed on each other in various ways and with different techniques, are now concealed, now revealed, now used to draw a sort of musical kaleidoscope

Destination:
Blue Christmas, commissioned by the Associazione E' Musica Nuova to augment the original repertoire of the Elba Jazz Kids Orchestra, is aimed at young performers who already possess the orchestral experience acquired in previous phases of the orchestra school project. The instrumental difficulties are however very limited.

Organic:
two flutes, two oboes, four clarinets in Bb, four alto saxophones,
two trumpets, horn, two trombones,
timpani (one or two performers for four boilers: soll, lal, C2, D2)
two harps, four guitars, piano,
5-piece string orchestra
(first, second and third violins; first and second cellos)
and other percussion ad libitum