''Finding Rothko'' is a composition for chamber orchestra by the American composer

Adam Schoenberg Adam Schoenberg (born November 15, 1980) is an American composer. A member of the Atlanta School of Composers, his works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles in the U.S. Schoenberg was the 2010-2012 guest composer for the As ...

. The work was commissioned by the Germantown, Tennessee-based IRIS Orchestra under the conductor

Michael Stern Michael Stern may refer to: * Michael Stern (conductor) (born 1959), American musician * Michael Stern (educator) (1922–2002), founder of the Waterford Kamhlaba United World College * Michael Stern (journalist) (1910–2009), American journalist ...

. It was first performed by the IRIS Orchest

under Stern on January 13, 2007.

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 Abstract expressionism is a post–World War II art movement in American painting, developed in New York City in the 1940s. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence and put New York at the center of the ...

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. Schoenberg, Adam (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 The piccolo ( ; Italian for 'small') is a half-size flute and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Sometimes referred to as a "baby flute" the modern piccolo has similar fingerings as the standard transverse flute, but the so ...

), two oboes (second doubling

cor anglais The cor anglais (, or original ; plural: ''cors anglais''), or English horn in North America, is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family. It is approximately one and a half times the length of an oboe, making it essentially an alto ...

), two

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

s (second doubling

bass clarinet The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B (meaning it is a transposing instrument on which a written C sounds as B), but it plays notes an octave bel ...

), two

bassoon The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...

s (second doubling

contrabassoon The contrabassoon, also known as the double bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon, sounding an octave lower. Its technique is similar to its smaller cousin, with a few notable differences. Differences from the bassoon The reed is consi ...

), two horns, two trumpets, piano (doubling

celesta The celesta or celeste , also called a bell-piano, is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks similar to an upright piano (four- or five-octave), albeit with smaller keys and a much smaller cabinet, or a large wooden music box ( ...

), two percussionists, and

strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

Reception

Reviewing a 2011 performance of ''Finding Rothko'' at the

Aspen Music Festival The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado. It is noted both for its concert programming and the musical training it offers to mostly young-adult music students. Founded in 1949, the ...

, 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 The Kansas City Symphony (KCS) is a United States symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The current music director is conductor Michael Stern. The Symphony performs at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1601 Br ...

under the direction of Michael Stern was released through Reference Recordin

on January 20, 2017. The album also includes performances of Schoenberg's ''

American Symphony The ''American Symphony'' is a symphony for orchestra by the American composer Adam Schoenberg. The work was commissioned by the Kansas City Symphony and was completed in early 2011. It was first performed by the Kansas City Symphony under the d ...

'' (2011) and ''

Picture Studies ''Picture Studies'' is an orchestral suite by the American composer Adam Schoenberg. The work was commissioned by the Kansas City Symphony and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. It was first performed by the Kansas City Symphony conducted by Micha ...

'' (2012).

References

{{italic title Compositions by Adam Schoenberg 2006 compositions Compositions for chamber orchestra Mark Rothko Music commissioned by orchestras Music based on art