Program Note

The three movements of Apollo X are inspired by various popular songs from the 1960s and 1970s that were, in turn, inspired by the Apollo space program and the race to put a man on the moon. Each movement contains a mixture of oblique references to these songs from various artists. Formally, the piece is influenced by certain of Vivaldi’s bassoon concertos, which feature compact, multi-movement structures in which the bassoon and orchestra parts are highly integrated.

Apollo X was commissioned by Nadina Mackie Jackson, Orchestra London and their conductor Alain Trudel. Funding was generously provided by the Ontario Arts Council, Nadina Mackie Jackson and Bianca Chambul. 

Flower Power Bus. Credit: Johannes Aubele, 2004.