Programme Note
As the title suggests AIR – an Aria marks a further step in my exploration of palindromic principles in music. The piece is a complete reworking of the first movement of my Six Palindromes for Wind Quintet and piano, being not only re-orchestrated but employing a completely new harmonic sequence which follows, however, the structural principles of the original.
The piece is in five sections A:B:C:B:A and is characterised by a series of solos and duets as follows :
Trumpet
Trumpet and Trombone
Marimba
Trombone and Trumpet
Trombone
Harmonic palindromes form the basis of sections A & B. The strictest melodic palindromes are also in those sections in the trumpet and trombone solos and duets. When the two brass instruments duet they also do so in strict rhythmic canon. These palindromes are more elusive in that they are cast across what is effectively an 11/8 metre usually broken up into two bars of 2/4 and one of 3/8 but occasionally into two of 3/8 and one of 5/8. The C section is slightly freer.
So much for the make up of the music. Despite the rigour it has a light, divertimento character. The use of extreme registers in the ensemble from the piccolo at one of the spectrum to the contrabassoon at the other helps to create, in a tribute to UPROAR and its conductor Michael Rafferty, a burlesque almost fairground atmosphere at times.
AIR – an Aria was commissioned by UPROAR and given its world premiere at Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff, Wales on October 26th 2018.