A Polemic Overture
(2012)
For 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 2 Tubas, 5 Tenors, 4 Violins -
5'
This little overture is my parody and comment on political rhetoric.
In his 1946 essay ‘Politics and The English Language’, George Orwell condemns and explores this frivolous relationship with language. He de-constructs writings, shows how ridiculous their use of the English language is and engages in parody to help this along. He then provides a set of simple rules to avoid these pretentions.
I have set an excerpt from the opening of the essay in badly translated German, courtesy of Google Translate.
Dedicated to Brendan Toal, for friendship, good times and being the greatest parody-agent I know.
Premièred at PLUG 2012. Conducted by Eoin Tonner.