Program Notes
Bravado (2023) was written for the Tanglewood Music Festival 2023 orchestral readings and explores the many connotations of the word “bravado,” a descendent of the Old Italian adjective bravo, meaning “wild” or “courageous.” A person with bravado can be seen as bold or reckless, daring or arrogant, confident or overbearing. The orchestra musically embodies this range of traits through the transformation of the piece’s primary melody. Thank you to the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra for bringing Bravado to life.
Additional Information
PERFORMED BY:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Chautauqua Institution Music Festival Orchestra
La Jolla Symphony Orchestra
Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Central Ohio Symphony
Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Dearborn Symphony Orchestra
Warren Symphony Orchestra
Adrian Symphony Orchestra
Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras
Syracuse Youth Orchestra
Connecticut Youth Symphony
Wake Forest Symphony Orchestra
University of Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
PRESS
"Flagello's "Bravado"...is a "killer" in more ways than one. Although very brief, the audacious and/or reckless work is a wild, jumpy ride that would not be easy to master even for the best orchestras." Symphony presents Nordic program (Delaware Gazette)
"“Bravado,” by Ann Arbor-based composer Gala Flagello...a punchy little piece, with off-kilter accents and syncopations thrusting in all directions, like a bag of cats packed into a small orbiter and launched into space. The sonic splendor was spent before you knew it, but it did the trick. Suddenly, you were all ears." from "Magic in our midst: Lansing Symphony opens season with a volley of variations," by Lawrence Cosentino (Lansing City Pulse).
Performance score is available for purchase through Just a Theory Press. Parts are available to rent by requesting a quote.