Symphony no. 6
For enlarged wind orchestra (flutes 1 and 2, piccolo 1 and 2, alto flute, 2 oboes, 1 cor anglais, 1 piccolo clarinet, 15 clarinets [3 individual parts and 15 individual parts in one section], 1 alto clarinet, 1 bass clarinet, 1 contrabass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 1 sop sax, 2 alto sax [individual parts], 1 tenor sax, 1 baritone sax, 1 bass sax, 1 piccolo trumpet, 5 trumpets, 5 horns, 3 euphoniums, 4 tenor trombones, 1 bass trombone, 3 tubas [individual parts], timpani + crotales + temple blocks + roto-toms + thimbles and flexatone, 5 percussionists [glockenspiel + tam + tenor drum/ xylophone + chimes + bass drum + snare drum + piccolo triangle/ vibraphone + crystal glass + suspended and crash cymbals/ marimba + tambourine + triangle + metal bowl + slapstick/ suspended and crash cymbals + egg shakers + snare drum], 1 electric guitar, 1 harp, 1 piano, 1 keyboard, 1 organ, 1 violin, 1 viola, 1 cello and 3 basses)
- Duration: 50'
- 4 Movements
- Composed in 2023
- First performance: 24.03.24 The Philharmonic Wind Orchestra conducted by R Casteels Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
- Full score ISMN 979-0-9025002-5-8
- Parts: To rent the parts, please email <rc@robertcasteels.com>
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Downloadable scores for inspection:
The symphony No. 6 opus 138 is scored for a large wind orchestra with an added ensemble of plucked and bowed strings, keyboard, piano and organ. The ubiquitous presence of the pipe organ in Casteels’s first, second and sixth symphonies is hardly surprisingly as he played the baroque organ of Saint-Denis Church in Brussels during his entire adolescence and has retained a fondness for the “emperor of the instruments”. The percussion section plays a prominent role with its five spectacular and virtuosic unconducted cadenzas. The composition process stretched over the whole year of 2023. The various sections were not necessarily composed in their final chronological order. The compositional language of the Symphony No. 6 is modal with a climax in D flat major devoid of any tonal relationship. Experimentation with AI was discarded, as the sonic result turned out disappointingly unintelligent. Casteels Sixth Symphony is structured in four cyclic movements, which means that all melodies and chords appear in some form and shape in all four movements. The first movement entitled Tristitia expresses loneliness and utter despair. At times, the sound dissolves into nocturnal mysterious noises and a scream. The contrasting and extrovert second movement, Gaudium, or joy, overflows with indomitable energy and optimism. The climax recedes terrace-wise to lead straight into the third movement, a peaceful chorale entitled Serenitatis. At this point, the composer wrote three different endings. After much soul searching, he opted for a light ending with a final humoristic twist. This final short movement is entitled Ironia. Thus, the sixth symphony covers a broad emotional spectrum of the four temperaments of sadness, joy, equilibrium and humour.