About the Ash Lad (2020)
Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, and CelloDuration: 10 minutes | Composed: 2020 | Commissioned by Inventi Ensemble (Melissa Doecke and Ben Opie) | World Premiere: @mlivemelbourne SOUND GALLERY SESSIONS, July 22 2020.
About the Ash Lad is inspired by a Dano-Norwegian folktale collection by Peter Christen
Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe that was published in 1859. It is said that Henrik Ibsen,
author of the original Peer Gynt drama, was inspired by this collection of folk tales of
which the story “About Ash Lad , Who Stole the Troll’s Silver Ducks, Coverlet, and
Golden Harp” (some other titles it is known by include “Boots and the Troll”), is a part
of. In this piece, the unfolding of the story in the form of a suite is also inspired by the
famous Grieg setting of Peer Gynt, as we follow the hero along his journey,
through perils and triumphs.
There are a total of nine small movements, all connected by a dance-like ‘Passage’
theme, that parallel the Ash Lad’s story as he ‘borrows’ three items from a Troll in order
to win the local princesses hand in marriage and a decent half of the kingdom on top of
that.
It was an absolute joy to compose this work for the thoroughly amazing Inventi
Ensemble, and I thank them for the opportunity to transport myself creatively into a
world of fantasy and imagine my own sounds within this old Dano-Norwegian realm.
SCORE SAMPLE
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