[Update: Yes! Hilary Hahn won in her category on February 8, 2015]
An encore may be played after a scheduled piece. However, it’s not an afterthought. As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, violinist Hillary Hahn’s collection of commissioned encores, that is up for a GRAMMY for "Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance" at next month’s ceremony, showcases more than two dozen such works for violin and piano.
Radio script:
Susan Lewis: Encores are typically short: Max Richter’s just over five-and-a-half-minute work, Mercy, is part of violinist Hilary Hahn’s CD compilation, In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores, as is Jennifer Higdon’s Echo Dash at 2 minutes and 17 seconds. Hahn wanted to encourage new works in the genre.
Hilary Hahn: In my project, I really wanted to do a collection of pieces that represent a range of styles today. I also wanted to feel drawn to those composers...I spent several months listening to all the music I could find, and then cold calling.
SL: She ended up with 26 composers, and held a contest for the 27th. She toured with the finished works, among them, Mason Bates’ Fords Farm. What makes a good encore?
HH: I personally tend to play more lyrical encores. But I like to have the quicker, flashy encores at the ready, because you never know when you’re going to need a second one, or maybe you feel energetic. It’s really good to have this range.
In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores, is out on the Deutsche Grammophon label. The Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on February 8, 2015.
http://youtu.be/_td4zQFbCjM