PROGRAM NOTES MATT BROWNE Divertimento for Orchestra (World Premiere) COMPOSER: Born Burlington, VT, 1988 WORK COMPOSED: 2026 WORLD PREMIERE: Santa Rosa Symphony, October 10, 2026. Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor. INSTRUMENTATION: Piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion (3 players), harp, strings ESTIMATED DURATION: 18 minutes M att Browne’s new Divertimento is not the first work by this rising star of American music to be performed by the Santa Rosa Symphony. His first symphony, The Course of Empire, written for the Santa Rosa and Eugene Symphonies in 2019, was premiered here in 2020. Browne, who received his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, is currently based in Colorado, where he is creating a rapidly growing, extremely varied, and critically acclaimed oeuvre in all concert genres (orchestral, chamber, vocal). His 2025 orchestral work, I Have Seen the Future, has already been presented by several ensembles across the country. Browne has offered the following remarks on his latest composition: A divertimento, a genre popular in the 18th century, embraced the lighter side of music and offered listeners a playful respite from their more serious concerns. In that same spirit, this work unfolds in three movements, each inspired by a modern form of diversion. I. You’re It This movement captures the restless energy of a game of tag. Melodic lines dart and weave in relentless pursuit, overlapping and evading one another in quick succession. Just as the chase reaches its peak, the music dissolves into an unexpectedly gentle and playful conclusion, a reminder that, despite the intensity, it’s all in good fun. II. Whispering Gallery Inspired by the famous whispering gallery in Grand Central Terminal, this movement explores the paradox of intimacy within a crowded space. In these spaces, a softly spoken word can travel effortlessly across great distances, resulting in a private conversation amid public noise. The music reflects this phenomenon through delicate textures and distant echoes, suggesting a quiet exchange suspended within a bustling environment. III. Tennis for Two Tennis for Two, one of the earliest video games from 1958, simulated a simple tennis match using a glowing dot on a screen. This movement mirrors that simplicity at its outset, with sparse, pointillistic gestures that evoke the game’s primitive design. Gradually, the texture intensifies into a driving and animated exchange, capturing both the competitive spirit and the surprising vitality of this early digital pastime. srsymphony.org 2026-2027 Season 13
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