Three Places in New England
| Three Places in New England | |
|---|---|
| Orchestral Set No. 1 | |
| by Charles Ives | |
Charles Ives (ca. 1913) | |
| Period | 20th-century music |
| Composed | approx. 1911–14 (rev. 1929) |
| Duration | about 20 minutes |
| Movements | Three |
| Scoring | Orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 10 January 1931 |
| Location | New York City |
| Conductor | Nicolas Slonimsky |
| Performers | Boston Chamber Orchestra |
The Three Places in New England (Orchestral Set No. 1) is a composition for orchestra in three movements by American composer Charles Ives. It was written mainly between 1911 and 1914, but with sketches dating as far back as 1903 and last revisions made in 1929. The work is celebrated for its use of musical quotation and paraphrasing.
The movements (in Ives's preferred slow-fast-slow sequence, longest first and shortest last) are:
- The “St. Gaudens” in Boston Common (Col. Shaw and his Colored Regiment)
- Putnam’s Camp, Redding, Connecticut
- The Housatonic at Stockbridge
Lasting just under twenty minutes, Three Places in New England has become one of Ives's most performed compositions. It exhibits signature traits of his style: layered textures with multiple, sometimes simultaneous melodies, many of which are recognizable hymn or marching tunes; masses of sound, including tone clusters; and sudden, sharp textural contrasts. Each "place" is in New England. Each is intended to make the listener experience a unique atmosphere, as if there. To this end, the paraphrasing of American folk tunes is an important device, providing tangible reference points and making the music accessible despite its avant-garde chromaticism. Three Places in New England aims to paint a picture of American ideals, lifestyle and patriotism at the turn of the 20th century.