ROMANCE FOR HARMONICA, STRINGS, AND PIANO
This whimsical piece for harmonica accompanied by string orchestra and piano was written for the great harmonica player Larry Adler (for whom Malcolm Arnold wrote his Harmonica Concerto). It was premiered by Adler in New York in 1952, a performance that was swiftly followed by another at the Proms under the baton of Sir Malcolm Sargent. Vaughan Williams writes idiomatically for the instrument without sacrificing his own distinctive compositional style, exploiting its expressive possibilities and showcasing the virtuosity of the soloist.
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On 17th March 1963 Jack Harrison performed the Australian premiere at an ABC Free Concert with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Farnsworth Hall . This open-air event was part of the ABC’s Summer Orchestral Concerts series.
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| 17 Mar 1963 | Gordon Jacob Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Strings (1948) AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE Vaughan Williams Romance for Harmonica and Orchestra (1951) AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE | Jack Harrison (saxophone) Jack Harrison (harmonica) John Farnsworth Hall (conductor) West Australian Symphony Orchestra | ABC Free Concert, Supreme Court Gardens Perth, Western Australia |
ABC FREE CONCERT 1963
With
W.A. Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by John Farnsworth Hall
Soloist: Jack Harrison (saxophonist and harmonica player)
Programme includes:
Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Strings (Gordon Jacob)
Romance for Harmonica and Orchestra (Vaughan Williams)
Tomorrow Night at 8pm
Supreme Court Gardens