Divertimento-Burlesca ...

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra presented three performances of this work December 10-12, 1992. In four movements, it was written in Helsinki in 1956 on commission from the Fish Creek Festival, Wisconsin. Writing in the News Journal, critic Tom Butler observed, "The DSO has had a fondness for Benjamin Lees for years. It is easy to see why they admire him. The 35-year old Divertimento Burlesca provided wonderful solo work for most of the sections as well as supplying an entertaining and coherent piece of comedy. Lees manages to distribute the roles of humor and sentiment throughout the orchestra. In the first movement the flute and harp provide humorous punctuation, yet in the Adagietto, Lees gives one beautiful tender melodies and the other subtle glissandos.

"The third movement is truly music with an attitude. The composer goes for brusque, sassy effects, with the clarinet running off a series of cuckoo imitations and an intentionally flatulent trombone reaching for guffaws. Lees came on stage after the work and was warmly received."

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