Balkan Sketches

Balkan Sketches was inspired by the rhythmic virtuosity and modal harmony of traditional Balkan music. It is composed of three sections that reappear in a pseudo-circular structure. Each section contrasts with the others, but they all share and develop the same melodic material – based on the idea of folk musicians improvising around the same theme.

Zachariah Jones is a 16-year-old composer and multi-instrumentalist. He has played oboe and cor anglais in Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) in 2020 and as a part of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) prodigy program (2019). He has also arranged pieces for the Australian Double Reed Society (ADRS). He hopes to improve and further his study of composition.

REVIEW

The Recorder Magazine Winter 2023

Winner of the 2021 Orpheus Music Competition, this composition is like an excellent old French wine: very mature. There are flying beautiful melodies in unusual time signatures, embellished with typical Balkan ornaments. These will keep you singing and improvising for hours. There is contrast between slow, elegiac and moaning sounds and the lively accentuated notes and dance-like rhythms in the fast movements. 

It's not easy to do with amateur players: you can barely sense a first beat in some bars in the middle parts, and off beat notes are not always as expected. The middle section requires singing and playing and it's not a drone you sing, but an extra line in polyphony with the many others. For reasons of harmony, the contrabass part needs a male voice. 

This is a fabulous piece for the stronger ensemble. it will take time to, but I promise you heartwarming rehearsals. Great music to be performed, heard and practised daily. 

Bart Spanhove