40 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
40 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Quintet
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slug: quintet
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instrumentation: For clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and piano.
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premiere: April 12, 2013, at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.
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recordings:
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Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ZY-8UHhxc
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date: 2013-03-01
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categories:
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- Chamber
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---
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_Quintet_ is a summation of my work as an undergraduate. The work contains a plethora of tributes
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to and quotes of other composers, as well as quotes of my own work, all of which are tied together
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with original material to create a musical-dramatic structure that is nearly symphonic in size.
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The most prominent quote is the primary rhythmic motive from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
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As is for many musicians and music lovers, that symphony holds a special place in my soul,
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and here this motive is meant to invoke the same as in his work: a sense of fate, perhaps the absurdity of life,
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ever present. In addition to this particular motive, there are various other quotations of
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the symphony in this work.
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Another important musical theme is _Why fum’th in fight_, a tune by the 16th century English composer Thomas Tallis.
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This theme was made famous by Ralph Vaughan Williams in his work _Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis_.
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This musical theme is one I have listened to as long as I have been an admirer of classical music,
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and, since it deeply resonates with my inner ear, I felt compelled to place it in this work.
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Finally, I would like to acknowledge the debt that this work owes to the music of composer David Maslanka.
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With many references to his own musical language, including both a prominent use of _Old Hundredth_ (which I first heard
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in his Fourth Symphony) as well as various references to his Ninth Symphony, I am deeply in debt to his music.
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_Quintet_ fully reflects this.
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There are many other small quotes, especially of my own music. Overall, however, the work is not
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meant to be a "quotation collage". These quotations are to me powerful symbols for my musical being,
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the combination of which is meant to serve a greater musical narrative.
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In the end, I hope the work to be a journey from cynicism and despair to an affirmation of love and life.
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This work was premiered by Sara Baumbauer, Seiji Cataldo, Josh Wareham, Audrey Slote, Erin Roe,
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and Jesse Brault at Urness Recital Hall, St. Olaf College, on April 12, 2013.
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