ocre oscuro (2006-2007)

In many of my recent pieces I have used techniques inspired by fine art painting. In particular I am interested in layering material over an initial melody or series of chords that last for the entire piece.
In ocre oscuro, the main material is written for the violin: this material is treated in different ways throughout - as if moving between successive layers. Raw umber, or ocre oscuro, is used to make the initial layer or underpainting in oil painting.
ocre oscuro was written for the London Sinfonietta under the Blue Touch Paper initiative, and is the second piece I have written under the scheme - the first, burnt umber was for solo viola. The first performance took place on 8 May 2007 at LSO St. Luke's, conducted by Richard Baker with Clio Gould (violin).

instrumentation:
alto flute, clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, violin, viola, cello
duration: 14 minutes ~

[with Richard Baker in rehearsal, 8 May 2007]
photo credit: Justin Piperger

[page 49]

CD
ocre oscuro (2007) on:
The Jerwood Series 5: Vine/Hall/Meredith
Richard Baker, London Sinfonietta
London Sinfonietta Label
[SINF CD1-2009]
NMC

"Ian Vine's Ocre Oscuro is an exploration of musical layering led by a skirling violin solo that gives way to more introspective and mysterious ideas from the rest of the ensemble. It's as if a microscope was shifting its focus between the levels of an intricate three-dimensional object."
Andrew Clements, the Guardian, May 2007