Mondrian's Studio

From Wind Repertory Project
Paul Dooley

Paul Dooley


Subtitle: For Horn and Wind Ensemble


General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Paul Dooley
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - Rental   |   Score Only (print) - $95.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Horn
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C Trumpet I-II
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Cabasa
  • China Cymbals
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Crotales
  • Djembe
  • Drum Set
  • Finger Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Sizzle Cymbal
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Mondrian’s Studio for horn and wind ensemble musically explores the discoveries of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). With his direct, simple and pure compositions using right angle lines and primary colors, Mondrian found a new way to express the beauty of nature, and became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

I. Wall Work: Beginning in 1920s Paris, Mondrian’s white studio walls became experimental canvases upon which he placed large rectangular placards, each in a single color. Meticulously repositioning the placards, Mondrian altered the dynamics of color and space. To follow Mondrian’s process, I composed a repeating playful melodic phrase in the solo horn which stretches, ascends and descends to build a large structure.

II. Self Portrait. In his 1918 self portrait, Mondrian sits at an angle, depicting himself having turned away from one of his paintings in order to face the viewer. The mystery painting in the background shows characteristics of Mondrian’s breakthrough wall works. A passionate low register melody in the solo horn depicts Mondrian’s long search for this new way to express the beauty of nature. Mondrian’s solution, the use of right angles and primary colors, is musically depicted with pointillistic clarinet and bassoon chords, which give movement to the horn theme.

III. Victory Boogie Woogie: After moving to New York City in 1939 to escape World War II, Mondrian enjoyed listening to loud jazz and boogie woogie music while working at his East 59th Street apartment. Small primary colored pieces of tape began to appear without dividing black lines, altogether resembling a top-down view of the frenetic Manhattan street grid. I have created a boogie woogie theme and a leitmotif that bounces through the ensemble, much like Mondrian’s pieces of tape, which he continuously rearranged and stacked on top of each other in search of balance and simplicity. The solo horn represents Mondrian’s creative mind, dancing across a beautiful sequence of lines and primary colors.

- Program Note by composer


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Wind Ensemble (Kevin M. Geraldi, conductor) – 8 October 2019
  • University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Symphony Band (Michael Haithcock, conductor; Adam Unsworth, horn) – 8 February 2019 *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

Retrieved from "https://www.windrep.org/index.php?title=Mondrian%27s_Studio&oldid=355327"