The Kashmir Concerto is one of very few orchestral works which succeeds at blending the immediacy and intensity of popular song with the intricacy and imagination of symphonic writing.
Led Zeppelin is known as one of the greatest rock bands of the 70's, but their influences and musical explorations were remarkably far-reaching, including disparate musical genres and traditions.
“I’m obsessed—not just interested, obsessed—with folk music, street music, the parallels between a country’s street music and its so-called classical and intellectual music, the way certain scales have travelled across the globe. All this ethnological and musical interaction fascinates me.” — Jimmy Page (1976)
Composer/Pianist Chappell Kingsland has recast three Led Zeppelin songs into the movements of a 20-minute piano concerto. Here is the 2/17/19 performance by the Wild Beautiful Orchestra conducted by Renée Noel Gilliland, with the composer as featured soloist:
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I: “Immigrant Song” A punchy opener, this hard-driving paean to the Vikings has densely-orchestrated banshee wails, tin-can beats and frenzied piano cadenzas. It also has a Beethovenian development section with motivic fragmentation and surprising modulations. |
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II: “The Rain Song”
The most gorgeous, epic, larger-than-life ballad to emerge from the 1970s. The balance of power and tenderness is perfectly suited to a symphonic treatment with the melody traded between the piano and the various instrumental families. |
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III: “Kashmir”
Guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant took their iconic song into new territory in their performances with Arabic musicians in the 1990s. The concerto runs with that idea, incorporating folk music of Kashmir, devotional music of Pakistan, and rhythmic motifs from the Indian tradition. |
The Kashmir Concerto uses a small orchestra of 5 winds, 4 brass, 3 percussionists, piano solo, harp (optional), and strings. A skilled drumset player is needed for a fully written-out part evoking John Bonham’s sensitive and nuanced playing.
For performance inquiries and to view the full score, please contact Chappell Kingsland. We are currently booking appearances for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. The arrangements are sanctioned by Alfred Music and all performances will be fully licensed.
How could the Kashmir Concerto fit on a symphonic program? Here are four directions to explore:
For performance inquiries and to view the full score, please contact Chappell Kingsland. We are currently booking appearances for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. The arrangements are sanctioned by Alfred Music and all performances will be fully licensed.
How could the Kashmir Concerto fit on a symphonic program? Here are four directions to explore:
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CLASSICAL PROGRAM
Wagner, Ride of the Valkyries Kingsland, Kashmir Concerto Holst, The Planets or Mozart, Overture from Abduction from the Seraglio Kingsland, Kashmir Concerto Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition |
EXOTIC CLASSICAL PROGRAM
Bizet, Carmen Suite no. 1 Kingsland, Kashmir Concerto Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherezade or Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole Kingsland, Kashmir Concerto Debussy, Nocturnes |
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WORLD MUSIC PROGRAM
Revueltas, Sensemaya Szymanowski, Songs of a Fairy-Tale Princess (for soprano and orchestra) Kingsland, Kashmir Concerto Dvorak, New World Symphony |
POPS PROGRAM
Since the Kashmir Concerto exists at the intersection of musical worlds, it could either serve as the “more-pops” piece on a classical program or as the “more-classical” piece on a pops program. Audiences who are familiar with the original songs will be excited to hear a truly fresh take on the material, while orchestral subscribers will be pleased to hear a crossover piece with truly symphonic writing. The piece could fit well on either a program of all rock music or a more diverse "popular music through the ages" concert. |
Below is a detailed list of works which share certain stylistic affinities with the Kashmir Concerto:
SHORTER WORKS:
• Bizet, Carmen Suite no. 1: 2.2.2.2./4.2.3.0./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 12 minutes.
• Debussy, "Ibéria" from Images: 4.3.3.4./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 19 minutes.
• Debussy, "Fêtes" from Nocturnes: 3.3.2.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings. 6 minutes.
• Kilar, Orawa (for string orchestra). 5.4.3.2.1. or larger. 10 minutes.
• Liszt/trans. Karl Müller Berghaus, Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 in C-sharp minor (transposed to C minor): 2.2.2.2./4.2.3.0./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Mozart, Overture from Abduction from the Seraglio: 3.2.2.2./2.2.Timp Perc/Strings. 5 minutes.
• Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 11 minutes.
• Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole: 4.3.3.3.sarrusophone/4.3.3.1./Perc Cel Hp/Strings. 15 minutes.
• Revueltas, Homenaje a Lorca (for chamber ensemble): 1.0.1.0./0.2.1.1./Perc Pno/1.1.0.0.1. 12 minutes.
• Revueltas, Sensemaya (for orchestra, but it is a setting of a poem about killing a giant snake in the jungle). 4.3.3.4./4.4.3.1./Timp Perc Pno/Strings. 7 minutes.
• Wagner/arr. Otto Lagney, Ride of the Walkyries: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 6 minutes.
WORKS WITH SOLOISTS:
• Ravel, Tzigane (for violin and orchestra): 2.2.2.2./2.1.0.0./Timp Perc Cel Hp/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Schubert/trans. Berlioz, "Erlkonig" (for voice and orchestra): 2.2.2.2./3.2.0.0./Timp/Strings. 4 minutes.
• Szymanowski, Songs of a Fairy-Tale Princess, op. 31 (for soprano and orchestra): 2.1.2.1./2.2.0.0./Perc Pno/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Atonal Rock n’ Roll: 3.3.3.2./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 12 minutes.
LARGER WORKS:
• Beethoven, Symphonies nos. 3, 5, or 7
• Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: 3.3.4.Alto Sax.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Hp Pno/Strings. 23 minutes.
• Borodin, Symphony no. 2: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 30 minutes.
• Debussy, Images: 4.4.3.4./4.4.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 34 minutes.
• Debussy, La Mer: 3.3.2.4./4.5.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings. 23 minutes.
• Debussy, Nocturnes: 3.3.2.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings/Women's Chorus. 24 minutes.
• Dvorak, Symphony no. 9 “From the New World”: 3.3.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 40 minutes.
• Mahler, Symphony no. 6: 5.5.5.5./8.6.4.1./Timp Perc 2Hp Cel/Strings. 80 minutes.
• Mozart, Symphony no. 40 in G minor: 1.2.2.2./2.0.0.0./Strings. 30 minutes.
• Mussorgsky/trans. Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition: 3.3.3.Alto sax.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 35 minutes.
• Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 45 minutes.
• Scriabin, Symphony no. 3 "The Divine Poem". 4.4.4.4./8.5.3.1./Timp 2hp/16.16.12.12.8. 45 minutes.
• Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5: 3.2.3.3./4.3.3.1./Timp 2Hp/Strings. 45 minutes.
• Szymanowski, Symphony no. 3 "Song of the Night" (for tenor or soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra). 4.4.5.4./6.4.4.1./Timp perc cel 2hp pno org/Tenor or Soprano solo and mixed chorus/Strings (ideally 16.14.12.10.8). 25 minutes.
OTHER WORKS:
• Rouse, Bonham for 8 percussionists. 8 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Concerto for Orchestra. 30 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Song of Peace from Heaven Earth Mankind: children’s chorus, 2.2.2.2./4.3.3.1./Perc Hp Pno/Strings (ideally 10.8.8.8.4.). 10 minutes.
SHORTER WORKS:
• Bizet, Carmen Suite no. 1: 2.2.2.2./4.2.3.0./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 12 minutes.
• Debussy, "Ibéria" from Images: 4.3.3.4./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 19 minutes.
• Debussy, "Fêtes" from Nocturnes: 3.3.2.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings. 6 minutes.
• Kilar, Orawa (for string orchestra). 5.4.3.2.1. or larger. 10 minutes.
• Liszt/trans. Karl Müller Berghaus, Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 in C-sharp minor (transposed to C minor): 2.2.2.2./4.2.3.0./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Mozart, Overture from Abduction from the Seraglio: 3.2.2.2./2.2.Timp Perc/Strings. 5 minutes.
• Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 11 minutes.
• Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole: 4.3.3.3.sarrusophone/4.3.3.1./Perc Cel Hp/Strings. 15 minutes.
• Revueltas, Homenaje a Lorca (for chamber ensemble): 1.0.1.0./0.2.1.1./Perc Pno/1.1.0.0.1. 12 minutes.
• Revueltas, Sensemaya (for orchestra, but it is a setting of a poem about killing a giant snake in the jungle). 4.3.3.4./4.4.3.1./Timp Perc Pno/Strings. 7 minutes.
• Wagner/arr. Otto Lagney, Ride of the Walkyries: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 6 minutes.
WORKS WITH SOLOISTS:
• Ravel, Tzigane (for violin and orchestra): 2.2.2.2./2.1.0.0./Timp Perc Cel Hp/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Schubert/trans. Berlioz, "Erlkonig" (for voice and orchestra): 2.2.2.2./3.2.0.0./Timp/Strings. 4 minutes.
• Szymanowski, Songs of a Fairy-Tale Princess, op. 31 (for soprano and orchestra): 2.1.2.1./2.2.0.0./Perc Pno/Strings. 10 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Atonal Rock n’ Roll: 3.3.3.2./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 12 minutes.
LARGER WORKS:
• Beethoven, Symphonies nos. 3, 5, or 7
• Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: 3.3.4.Alto Sax.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Hp Pno/Strings. 23 minutes.
• Borodin, Symphony no. 2: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 30 minutes.
• Debussy, Images: 4.4.3.4./4.4.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 34 minutes.
• Debussy, La Mer: 3.3.2.4./4.5.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings. 23 minutes.
• Debussy, Nocturnes: 3.3.2.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc 2Hp/Strings/Women's Chorus. 24 minutes.
• Dvorak, Symphony no. 9 “From the New World”: 3.3.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc/Strings. 40 minutes.
• Mahler, Symphony no. 6: 5.5.5.5./8.6.4.1./Timp Perc 2Hp Cel/Strings. 80 minutes.
• Mozart, Symphony no. 40 in G minor: 1.2.2.2./2.0.0.0./Strings. 30 minutes.
• Mussorgsky/trans. Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition: 3.3.3.Alto sax.3./4.3.3.1./Timp Perc Cel 2Hp/Strings. 35 minutes.
• Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade: 3.2.2.2./4.2.3.1./Timp Perc Hp/Strings. 45 minutes.
• Scriabin, Symphony no. 3 "The Divine Poem". 4.4.4.4./8.5.3.1./Timp 2hp/16.16.12.12.8. 45 minutes.
• Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5: 3.2.3.3./4.3.3.1./Timp 2Hp/Strings. 45 minutes.
• Szymanowski, Symphony no. 3 "Song of the Night" (for tenor or soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra). 4.4.5.4./6.4.4.1./Timp perc cel 2hp pno org/Tenor or Soprano solo and mixed chorus/Strings (ideally 16.14.12.10.8). 25 minutes.
OTHER WORKS:
• Rouse, Bonham for 8 percussionists. 8 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Concerto for Orchestra. 30 minutes.
• Tan Dun, Song of Peace from Heaven Earth Mankind: children’s chorus, 2.2.2.2./4.3.3.1./Perc Hp Pno/Strings (ideally 10.8.8.8.4.). 10 minutes.