Mason: Malá Strana FULL SCORE

Todd Mason describes Malá Strana saying: “This piece evokes the majesty and drama of the beautiful district of Prague called Malá Strana. It’s a kind of love letter or tone poem that transports the listener back through time to a place where Beethoven and Mozart walked the very streets. A short walk across the Charles Bridge (built in 1357) spanning the famous Vltava river, (aka “The Moldau” in German), and one also feels the presence of the famous Czech composers Dvořák and Smetana and the endless history of many other great artists, scientists, and monarchs amidst a thousand years of magnificent European architecture. As “Malá Strana” comes to an end, we feel we’ve taken a meditative journey – a kind of day dream – and now must return to the present.”

Malá Strana, for string orchestra, is very accessible music with rich harmonies, interesting inner lines, and a sense of constant forward movement that will make it an enjoyable addition to almost any concert, for all audiences. The work uses mostly traditional harmonic language, but with several accents of more complex colors and dissonance, and some unexpected moments, adding to the dramatic appeal. The work is not terribly difficult, except perhaps for a few moments in the 1st violins when they go fairly high. The piece can be played by a small ensemble of 12 players up to a full-size string orchestra. —Todd Mason