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Descending Blue, The
General Info
Year: 2013
Duration: c. 9:45
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $150.00 | Score Only (digital) - $30.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III-IV
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet I-II
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Horn in F I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Piano
Harp (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Crotales
- Glockenspiel
- Guiro
- Hi-Hat
- Marimba
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-Tam
- Tenor Drum
- Tom-Tom (2)
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
My friend and mentor Ian Krouse is fond of what he refers to as the “wave form” - a form whereby a simple, recurring musical object serves as the jumping-off point for a series of contrasting musical vignettes. The “wave form” is in many ways a modernized approach to the Classical “theme-and-variations” form, but one which allows for a more linear, narrative structure, filled with unexpected turns and unpredictable transformations.
The Descending Blue (2013) is my answer to the “wave form”. The work is built entirely on perhaps the most fundamental of musical objects - the IV to V, predominant to dominant, chord progression. This gesture, presented in every possible permutation - forwards, backwards, smashed together, is stated first, and in its most simple form, by the clarinets. The music unfolds organically from there, twisting and turning, proceeding through progressively varied orchestrational and contrapuntal treatments and working though increasingly remote modulations. Following a triumphant treatment of the theme in the brass, a final echo of clarinets serves as a remembrance of where we started.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- San Jose (Calif.) State University Wind Ensemble (Edward C. Harris, conductor) – 3 December 2015
Works for Winds by This Composer
- As One Listens to the Rain (2011)
- As Scattered by Waves (2011)
- Descending Blue, The (2013)
- In Shimmering Ardor (2013)
- Nne na Tatu (2013)
- Rime and Ballast (2014)