Concerto Grosso: Full Score

This score demonstrates how contemporary composition can honor the concerto grosso tradition without pastiche. Directors programming modern works will appreciate Wallen's sure command of string textures and her ability to create clear structural architecture that rehearsal groups can lock onto quickly.

The work unfolds with clarity and structural purpose, anchored in recognizable concerto grosso architecture but voiced with fresh harmonic color. Lyrical passages alternate with moments of rhythmic vitality, creating a score that feels both rooted in tradition and distinctly contemporary.

This score is essential for conductors programming contemporary classical music with string orchestras or advanced chamber ensembles. Directors seeking repertoire that bridges classical forms with modern compositional practice will find Wallen's approach instructive and rewarding.

• Balance the dialogue between soloists and tutti carefully during rehearsal; mark exact dynamic relationships in your parts to ensure the concertante writing stays transparent.
• Pay particular attention to intonation in passages where the ensemble sustains while soloists move expressively; spotcheck these sections in sectionals.
• Consider tempo relationships between sections early; conductor preparation here will save considerable rehearsal time with a larger ensemble.

Program this alongside other contemporary works to demonstrate how living composers engage with historical forms, or pair it with Baroque concertos to highlight continuity and evolution in string writing across centuries.

• Interpreting contemporary notational practices within classical structural frameworks
• Balancing solo and tutti textures in concertante writing
• Responding to modern harmonic language while maintaining stylistic coherence
• Ensemble intonation and blend across sustained harmonic passages