Millennium

From Wind Repertory Project
Stephen Melillo

Stephen Melillo


General Info

Year: 1997
Duration: c. 9:45
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Stephen Melillo
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $135.00; (digital) - $120.00   |   Score Only (print) - $40.00


Movements

1. Art of the State 3:55
2. By Love Inviolate


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute I
Flute II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
PAD Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Snare Drum
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam (large)
  • Triangle


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Two highly contrasting movements depict the battle for world dominance at the brink of the 3rd millennium. The first movement, Art of the State is a wild, viral journey at 164 beats per minute. In extreme contrast, the second movement depicts the serenity of a Love Inviolate.

We live during an interesting time. As a college student, I recall many discussions with classmates who shared the unshakeable feeling that somehow they would not live beyond the age of 45. There seems to reside in us a sort of build-in precipice as we approach the beginning of the new millennium. The transition is simple a change of numbers, yet we anticipate this ‘crossing over’, somehow fascinated with all the new zeros. Questions abound.

This work, Millennium, is an offering, a prediction if you will, about what may await us at the dawn of the new millennium. The movement titles are merely pointers, the graphic … a picture to speak a thousand words. Or should I say “two thousand”. But, my friends and sensitive musicians … music transcends, for in its indescribable whisper, music speaks a thousand pictures.

Art of the State, interestingly enough, is a piece composed with exacting proportions. I say ‘interesting’ because the effect desired is one where the chaos of order is imposed. When calculated at the tempi from which I maintain a constant between all of the ‘storm’ work pieces … that of 90 beats per minute, the first movement is exactly twice as long as the second. This is all a part of the inner message, which is more of a formal concern. Against the natural inner architecture of the piece, the four-note motif collides. It is a number not contained within the Fibonacci series … though related. As the four-note motif ascends, the air should increase, so that with each iteration, each upward repetition, there is a continual crescendo, an unyielding swelling.

This work, as are all Stormworks, is dedicated to those who believe that light will triumph over darkness. Godspeed!”

- Program Note by composer


Millennium was commissioned for the 1997 Internationale Festiche Musiktage Uster.

- Program Note from publisher


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources