Responses: Sweet Disorder and the Carefully Careless: Piano and Orchestra Study Score

The composition is characterized by a single, 29-minute sentence that unfolds in a unique manner. It draws inspiration from the title of an essay collection by Robert Maxwell, a friend of the composer. Birtwistle intentionally avoids excessive precision in each voice, a common critique of post-Schoenberg serial music. His imaginative approach remains free from mathematical constraints, resulting in a turbulent, scherzo-like, and intricately layered piece. The relationship between soloists and orchestra is explored in new and brilliant dimensions, showcasing Birtwistle's ongoing concern for this dynamic.