The Descending Blue
Grade: 5 - for advanced high school and university-level groups
Duration: 9:45
Composed: November, 2012 - January, 2013
Current Version: 1.1.1
Purchase at Murphy Music Press
Duration: 9:45
Composed: November, 2012 - January, 2013
Current Version: 1.1.1
Purchase at Murphy Music Press
Perusal Score
My friend and mentor Ian Krouse is fond of what he refers to as the “wave form” - a form whereby a simple, recurring musical object serves as the jumping-off point for a series of contrasting musical vignettes. The “wave form” is in many ways a modernized approach to the Classical “theme-and-variations” form, but one which allows for a more linear, narrative structure, filled with unexpected turns and unpredictable transformations.
The Descending Blue (2013) is my answer to the “wave form”. The work is built entirely on perhaps the most fundamental of musical objects - the IV to V, predominant to dominant, chord progression. This gesture, presented in every possible permutation - forwards, backwards, smashed together, is stated first, and in its most simple form, by the clarinets. The music unfolds organically from there, twisting and turning, proceeding through progressively varied orchestrational and contrapuntal treatments and working though increasingly remote modulations. Following a triumphant treatment of the theme in the brass, a final echo of clarinets serves as a remembrance of where we started.
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flutes 1.2.3.4
Oboes 1.2
English Horn
Clarinets in Bb 1.2.3.4
Bass Clarinets 1.2
Contra Alto Clarinet in Eb
Bassoons 1.2
Contrabassoon (opt.)
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets in Bb 1.2.3.4.5.6
Horns in F 1.2.3.4.5.6
Tenor Trombones 1.2.3
Bass Trombone
Euphoniums 1.2
Tubas 1.2
Double Basses 1.2
Harp (opt.)
Piano
Timpani
Percussion 1 - Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone, Xylophone
Percussion 2 - Hi-hat, Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, 2 Tom-toms, Triangle
Percussion 3 - Glockenspiel, Tenor Drum, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 4 - Clash Cymbals, Vibraphone
Percussion 5 - Crotales, Hi-hat, Tam-tam
Percussion 6 - Bass Drum, Guiro, Hi-hat, Sus. Cymbal, 2 Tom-toms
My friend and mentor Ian Krouse is fond of what he refers to as the “wave form” - a form whereby a simple, recurring musical object serves as the jumping-off point for a series of contrasting musical vignettes. The “wave form” is in many ways a modernized approach to the Classical “theme-and-variations” form, but one which allows for a more linear, narrative structure, filled with unexpected turns and unpredictable transformations.
The Descending Blue (2013) is my answer to the “wave form”. The work is built entirely on perhaps the most fundamental of musical objects - the IV to V, predominant to dominant, chord progression. This gesture, presented in every possible permutation - forwards, backwards, smashed together, is stated first, and in its most simple form, by the clarinets. The music unfolds organically from there, twisting and turning, proceeding through progressively varied orchestrational and contrapuntal treatments and working though increasingly remote modulations. Following a triumphant treatment of the theme in the brass, a final echo of clarinets serves as a remembrance of where we started.
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flutes 1.2.3.4
Oboes 1.2
English Horn
Clarinets in Bb 1.2.3.4
Bass Clarinets 1.2
Contra Alto Clarinet in Eb
Bassoons 1.2
Contrabassoon (opt.)
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets in Bb 1.2.3.4.5.6
Horns in F 1.2.3.4.5.6
Tenor Trombones 1.2.3
Bass Trombone
Euphoniums 1.2
Tubas 1.2
Double Basses 1.2
Harp (opt.)
Piano
Timpani
Percussion 1 - Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone, Xylophone
Percussion 2 - Hi-hat, Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, 2 Tom-toms, Triangle
Percussion 3 - Glockenspiel, Tenor Drum, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 4 - Clash Cymbals, Vibraphone
Percussion 5 - Crotales, Hi-hat, Tam-tam
Percussion 6 - Bass Drum, Guiro, Hi-hat, Sus. Cymbal, 2 Tom-toms