vacillations
click here
for score sample in pdf (pages 1-10) programme note: As the title
suggests, this piece is about a constant wavering in purpose and intention,
where ideas vie for a foothold in an ever shifting aural vista. Crudity
wrestles with elegance, liquid horizontalism explodes out of and is then
impeded by block verticalism, grand string-centred explorations are effaced
and undermined by lightly scored, fragmentary material, seemingly stable
colour palates are suddenly infiltrated by waves or blobs of contrasting
timbres...
year:
2002
instrumentation:
2222; 4220; hp; 2 perc; strings duration:
9'
premiere: West
Australian Symphony Orchestra / Kevin
Field, Perth 18.10.2002
recording: ABC Classic FM
I was very interested in exploring in some small way the huge array of sub-groupings
of instruments within the orchestra, and I sought to elevate these chamber
groupings to the same level of importance as the entire body of resources
used simultaneously. The most obvious example of this is the frequent use
of the string quartet (ie, the lead players of each string section, minus
the basses) as both a timbral paring-back of the strings as a whole and
a sovereign expressive force in its own right. In considering the orchestra
in part as a large chamber group, many individual lines assume, in isolated
areas, concerto-like duties and characteristics, where their solo outbursts
are supported by burbling, decorational accompaniments.
Only towards the end does a single rhythmic idea (a simple driving moto
perpetuo) sustain a platform around which previously antagonistic colouristic
and textural devices are able to mingle happily before a final decay of
order and a brief, evaporating coda.
Vacillations was
written as Chris's contribution to the Australian
Composers' Orchestral Forum (ACOF), an opportunity made possible through
the collaboration of the Centre
for New Zealand Music and the Australian
Music Centre. Under the scheme, Chris travelled to Brisbane for tutelage
with Gerard
Brophy and then to Perth for further coaching from Roger
Smalley and Brenton
Broadstock (pictured) and to rehearse with the West
Australian Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kevin
Field.