Pentagonal Palastrina
(Hibernating Humanism), opus 69
for trombone quintet
Commissioned by Joel Ellias at the University of California @ Davis
This work was written for an intermediate college quintet, with
restrictions on range, and the complexity of rhythm. The second section does
contain a difficult rhythm for the first player. In my opinion, the rest is
quite easy. The difficulty arrives though the use of difficult harmonies and a
need for a high level of musicianship needed to interpret this work.
This work contains a quote from Palastrina. It can be found near
the end of the first and third parts of the composition. It occurs several time,
but is usually modified into a mode other than the major scale used by
Palastrina. Thus the primary name. The first section I believe is in a poly -
modal form of composition with the tone centers B & C#. The second section
is a study inspired by Alvin Lucier. It is a study into expanding cluster from
four half steps to four whole steps.
Performance of the work should emphasis smooth lines with a
forwards direction in the first part, slow with attention given to the changing
interference beats in the second part and in the third part, lets add an
accelerando from 238 to 243 where a Molto Allegro begins to the end. The section
at 275 should have the feel of a jazz interlude.
This work was written for an intermediate college quintet, with
restrictions on range, and the complexity of rhythm. The second section does
contain a difficult rhythm for the first player. In my opinion, the rest is
quite easy. The difficulty arrives though the use of difficult harmonies and a
need for a high level of musicianship needed to interpret this work.
The secondary title refers to my awareness of the lack of Humanism,
I perceived in the students. This work was written at the coffee shop at the University of California @ Davis.
A horn version recording of this work has been made, but it is not currenlty scheduled for release.