Accordion Concerto No. 3

This accordion concerto is inspired by the complex rhythms created when ocean waves hit rocks. Initially sparking curiosity, the experience quickly transforms into a distinct state – a specific feeling of time where one is simultaneously completely present and outside of time itself.

The first movement begins at a fast tempo, with the accordion moving in and out of the orchestra’s rhythmic texture. Various melodies emerge throughout, and the movement concludes with a slow, introspective repetition of the main theme.

The second movement begins where the first ended, featuring slow, expressive music that gradually increases in speed and intensity until Baroque elements break through at the work’s conclusion.

The two movements also exist as independent works titled Concerto Piccolo I and Concerto Piccolo II. Concerto Piccolo I was commissioned by PIF Castelfidardo 2023 for the third-round final of the Premio competition. It was first performed at Teatro Astro in Castelfidardo, Italy, by Zhiyuan Zhang, Olzhas Nurlanov, and Petar Dinčić with the Orchestra Filarmonica della Calabria, conducted by Alfredo Luigi Cornacchia.

The movements were composed concurrently for Bjarke Mogensen as works for accordion and electronics/sampled orchestra in 3D immersive audio. This version is designed for performance in varied settings, including churches, galleries, concert venues, and outdoor environments such as rocky landscapes, forests, or urban squares.