Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (2007)
-clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, piano
-arrangement commissioned by Ensemble Zellig
-premiered October 6, 2007 (Longny-au-perche, France)
Etienne Lamaison, clarinet/bass clarinet
Silvia Lenzi, cello
Thierry Pecou, piano
Program Notes
The title reflects the history of the work's main musical material. It originated as a four-part choral piece, but something was missing. I reduced and reused it in its next form, a 13-part clarinet choir, shortening some sections and writing new ones without straying too far from the original material. Finally, I reworked it considerably into a transformed, or recycled, version for saxophones and piano. At the request of Thierry Pécou, I arranged it in this instrumentation for Ensemble Zellig.
Sampling, remixing, and varying – all forms of musical recycling – are important components of my artistic philosophy. They also have as metaphors the actions we should take regarding our natural resources.
In this age of rapid global warming, diminishing natural resources, and eight years of a Bush White House, the phrase, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," which I learned when very young, has never sounded so urgent. The Obama administration, which has made energy its highest priority after the economic recession, may quickly change our nation's collective environmental awareness.
Subsequent Performances
October 24, 2007 at UNC-Greensboro for the school’s annual new music festival
October 28, 2007 at UNC-Greensboro for Gina Pezzoli’s recital
December 1 and 5, 2008 in New York City by the Lost Dog Ensemble
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (8')
excerpt (from Trio Saxiana’s recording on Eroica Recordings VOC1519)
-alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano
-commissioned by Trio Saxiana
-premiere on January 19, 2008 (Paris, France) by Trio Saxiana
Anne Lecapelin, alto saxophone
Nicolas Prost, tenor saxophone
Laurent Wagschal, piano
-recorded by Trio Saxana for Nicolas Prost’s CD “Klassik & Blue” from 2009 (Eroica Recordings JDT 3447)
Program Notes
The title reflects the history of the work's main musical material. It originated as a four-part choral piece, but something was missing. I reduced and reused it in its next form, a 13-part clarinet choir, shortening some sections and writing new ones without straying too far from the original material. Finally, I reworked it considerably into a transformed, or recycled, version for saxophones and piano for Trio Saxiana.
Sampling, remixing, and varying – all forms of musical recycling – are important components of my artistic philosophy. They also have as metaphors the actions we should take regarding our natural resources.
In this age of rapid global warming, diminishing natural resources, and eight years of a Bush White House, the phrase, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," which I learned when very young, has never sounded so urgent. The Obama administration, which has made energy its highest priority after the economic recession, may quickly change our nation's collective environmental awareness.
Subsequent Performances
numerous performances by Trio Saxiana in France
Duke New Music Ensemble performance in April 2008