Fazıl Say’s Violin Concerto No. 2 was composed in April 2020 from his home in the Turkish town of Urla on the Agean Sea. ‘During lockdown, I always went for a walk on the empty beach very early in the morning. Each sunrise had its own colour, texture and atmosphere which subsequently flowed into the composition.’ (Fazıl Say)
The four-movement concerto opens with the pastoral Ballad of Aurora. The ensuing Jazz Dance is followed by a slow movement entitled Quiet Morning. The epilogue of the final movement Sunrise presents a meditation by the solo violin, whose monophony captures the atmosphere of deserted streets and beaches, ultimately fading away through ppp.
I Allegro ma non troppo
II Dance
III Andantino tranquillo, quasi meditazione
IV Issız gökyüzü (Barren Skies · Öde Himmel), Allegro ma non troppo
2 (2. auch Picc.) · 2 · 2 · 2 – 2 · 2 · 2 · 0 – P. S. (Vibr. · Drumset · 2 Tomt. · Kudüm (oder 2 Cong.) · 2 Cong. · 2 Bong. · Barchimes) (2 Spieler) – Hfe. – Str.)
