SKU: BR.EB-9387
ISBN 9790004188576. 0 x 0 inches.
Commissioned by the Kolner Philharmonie (KolnMusik) for the non bthvn projekt 2020 and the Cite de la musique / Philharmonie de Paris Dedicated to Arditti Quartet Each movement of this quartet explores a single state, its lights and its shadows. Each movement, you could say, is a moment . And these moments could last for more or less time without compromising their essential nature. The processes could be extended or compressed, repeated or reversed, but the core ideas - if they are ideas, but maybe they are simply experiences? - are what they are. Despite this, the precise sequence of movements matters a great deal. Heard together they do articulate some kind of linear narrative, maybe even a metaphorical journey (albeit a circular one where the arrival might, who knows, prove to be a new departure). One situation gives way to another and instrumental relationships within the quartet vary, but ultimately the imaginative impulse behind the piece preferences states of unity. Whether or not this unity is expressed texturally - sometimes literal unisons pervade, but not always - there is generally a sense that even seemingly diverse aspects relate to a fundamental condition of concord: a conscious limitation in the pitch structure to spectral emanations of the root notes E-flat and C. At the opening this is unambiguously audible in the perpetual alternation of these two notes in the low cello register. Later the two spectra are woven into a micro-tonal 'double-spectral-mode' (derived from the first 24 partials of the C and E-flat fundamentals), which defines the subtle melodic inflection of the second movement, and the never-quite-chromatic ascending scales of the third. For now this feels like a rich source of melodic possibility, so far only just glimpsed... And why the insistence on E-flat? Probably by way of historical anecdote. Apparently Karl Holz (a member of the Schuppanzigh Quartet) said to Beethoven: We performed your Quartet in E-flat Op. 127 in his [Weber's] honour; he found the Adagio too long; but I told him: Beethoven also has a longer feeling and a longer imagination than anyone standing or not standing today. - Since then, even Linke (another member of the quartet) can no longer stand him: we cannot forgive him for this. Listening again to Op. 127, in light of these comments, I was struck by the opening moment: the unfolding of an E-flat 7th chord over the course of a few bars. Every time I hear it I find myself wishing that Beethoven would have lingered longer there, without resolution or progression, just enjoying that sonority. And maybe - why not? - tune the 7th naturally. And what would it be to stretch that moment into an entire piece? What would Weber think of that?! In the end I was not so extreme in my self-limitation, and other concerns took over, but it was from these thoughts that the composition process began... Lastly, about the title: it comes from a book called 'The Clock of the Long Now' by Stewart Brand, published at the turn of the millennium. It's about the creation of a thousand-year clock to embody the aspiration to thinking in terms of longer time-spans than are presently habitual. If the music of Beethoven embodied a 'longer' feeling and imagination than some of his contemporaries were able to appreciate, what is our relation to time now? Longer or shorter? Maybe it depends who you ask... It's probably more extreme in both directions: attention spans might be diminishing in the digital world, but conversely there is an awareness of distant pasts and potential futures which would have been inconceivable at the time of Beethoven. In any case, the interesting thing is to ponder how societal conditions, assumptions and expectations might - whether consciously or unconsciously - influence the time of art, for listeners and creators alike. And what if time is running out? (Christian Mason)World premiere: Paris, Cite de la musique, January 14, 2020.
SKU: HL.1167164
ISBN 9781705188606. UPC: 196288123651. 6.75x10.5x0.036 inches.
Although any piece with abundant references to snow and cold would easily be placed in the ââ¬Åwinterââ¬Â category, ââ¬ÅWatch it Snowââ¬Â is a song that can be sung at any time of year. The falling snow can serve as an expressive metaphor: just as we must wait for the storm to pass before we begin shoveling our driveways, we must rest and reflect in the moments of calm between the many challenges of life.
SKU: CF.CPS242F
ISBN 9781491157947. UPC: 680160916542. 9 x 12 inches.
All of us have experienced unique moments in our lives that create unforgettable mental snapshots. These images can often provide comfort, a moment of humor, or can be a source of inspiration. Years ago while traveling with (who are now) old friends, I witnessed a New Mexico night sky for the very first time. We were so taken with the view that we pulled our rental car to the side of the highway just to stand and stare skyward. The clarity and size of the stars redefined my understanding of our place in this vast universe. To my eye, I was staring at hundreds of little moons. In writing this piece, I wanted to capture a sense of beauty, wonder and humility. The euphonium solo presents the theme as a wistful offering to things beyond our understanding. Throughout the selection this theme is passed throughout the ensemble, and thicker textures evolve. The mallet percussion plays a vital role in providing harmonic stability early in the selection. Non-pitched percussion is essential in building tension and generating effective impacts at louder dynamic levels. Ideally, the two triangles found in the Percussion 2 part should be mounted and of two distinctly different pitches. Both should be played with light beaters if possible. I sincerely hope Many Moons provides years of inspiration for you and your ensemble just as that southwestern sky did for me amany moonsa ago.All of us have experienced unique moments in our lives that create unforgettable mental snapshots. These images can often provide comfort, a moment of humor, or can be a source of inspiration. Years ago while traveling with (who are now) old friends, I witnessed a New Mexico night sky for the very first time. We were so taken with the view that we pulled our rental car to the side of the highway just to stand and stare skyward. The clarity and size of the stars redefined my understanding of our place in this vast universe. To my eye, I was staring at hundreds of little moons. In writing this piece, I wanted to capture a sense of beauty, wonder and humility. The euphonium solo presents the theme as a wistful offering to things beyond our understanding. Throughout the selection this theme is passed throughout the ensemble, and thicker textures evolve. The mallet percussion plays a vital role in providing harmonic stability early in the selection. Non-pitched percussion is essential in building tension and generating effective impacts at louder dynamic levels. Ideally, the two triangles found in the Percussion 2 part should be mounted and of two distinctly different pitches. Both should be played with light beaters if possible. I sincerely hope Many Moons provides years of inspiration for you and your ensemble just as that southwestern sky did for me many moons ago.All of us have experienced unique moments in our lives that create unforgettable mental snapshots. These images can often provide comfort, a moment of humor, or can be a source of inspiration. Years ago while traveling with (who are now) old friends, I witnessed a New Mexico night sky for the very first time. We were so taken with the view that we pulled our rental car to the side of the highway just to stand and stare skyward. The clarity and size of the stars redefined my understanding of our place in this vast universe. To my eye, I was staring at hundreds of little moons. In writing this piece, I wanted to capture a sense of beauty, wonder and humility.The euphonium solo presents the theme as a wistful offering to things beyond our understanding. Throughout the selection this theme is passed throughout the ensemble, and thicker textures evolve. The mallet percussion plays a vital role in providing harmonic stability early in the selection. Non-pitched percussion is essential in building tension and generating effective impacts at louder dynamic levels. Ideally, the two triangles found in the Percussion 2 part should be mounted and of two distinctly different pitches. Both should be played with light beaters if possible.I sincerely hope Many Moons provides years of inspiration for you and your ensemble just as that southwestern sky did for me “many moons†ago.
SKU: CF.CPS242
ISBN 9781491157930. UPC: 680160916535. 9 x 12 inches.
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