At Bay (2006)
At Bay (10')
i. ambivalent
ii. pensive
iii. bold
-violin, cello, piano
-premiered by the Arensky Trio, California Summer Music, Pebble Beach, CA, July 2006
-winner, 2006 Juventas Call For Scores
-selected for Music07 in Cincinnati, OH
Program Notes
In this work I portray conflicting pressures in two ways: with bimodality, or two superimposed melodic modes, and "multiple simultaneous times." The main melodic and harmonic material is based on a major pentatonic mode, and its inversion forms the contrasting mode, which winds itself through the three movements. I use different, concurrent, simulated time structures throughout the piece, the violin and cello often embarking on their own courses while the piano maintains a steady, rhythmic ostinato.
The first movement, ambivalent, introduces conflicting emotions. The second, pensive, illustrates a more introspective approach to these circumstances. Finally, the last movement, bold, demonstrates the way of addressing them, still apprehensive, but with conviction. After a lengthy piano introduction, the music takes on the heavy grooves and complex rhythms of much contemporary jazz; I write "driving funk" in the score.
The piece is meant to portray the fundamentally different yet intimately linked emotions and reactions one can often apply to a single situation.
Subsequent Performances
December 2006 in Boston, MA as part of the Juventas Ensemble’s 2006-2007 season
December 2, 2006 at the Boston Conservatory
December 3, 2006 at Harvard University (recording of first movement from this performance)
December 8, 2006 at Marsh Chapel, Boston University (recordings of second and third movements from this performance)
Annabelle Tirado, violin
Nicholas Dinnerstein, cello
Christopher Leeds, piano
June 2007 at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music during the Music07 festival