Scored for: flute, oboe, clarinet/sax, bassoon, viola, bass, marimba, piano Duration: 7 min. Premiere: 1/02, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, The Relâche Ensemble For: The The Relâche Ensemble Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
PROGRAM NOTES
TRAX is a work based on rhythm, interval and motive that nods at different musical languages: jazz, funk, blues, baroque, romantic and modern atonal. The work began as a sax quartet, Sax Trax (1997) for the Diastema (France), Helikon (Holland) and Prism (US) sax quartets and later became a mallet quartet for the Battery 4 Percussion Group. TRAX was reconstructed for the Relâche Ensemble where the colors of the various instruments highlight the counterpoint and changing textures. The piece begins with pointillistic rhythms followed by a blues-like middle section featuring some improvisation. Sostenuto lines give way to soloistic passages over slowly evolving harmonies. A brief transition leads into a recapitulation of the opening material where, after a momentary loss of verve, the ensemble re-enters with renewed vigor and drives the piece to its close.
LISTEN
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TRAX
Scored for: flute, oboe, clarinet/sax, bassoon, viola, bass, marimba, piano
Duration: 7 min.
Premiere: 1/02, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, The Relâche Ensemble
For: The The Relâche Ensemble
Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
PROGRAM NOTES
TRAX is a work based on rhythm, interval and motive that nods at different musical languages: jazz, funk, blues, baroque, romantic and modern atonal. The work began as a sax quartet, Sax Trax (1997) for the Diastema (France), Helikon (Holland) and Prism (US) sax quartets and later became a mallet quartet for the Battery 4 Percussion Group. TRAX was reconstructed for the Relâche Ensemble where the colors of the various instruments highlight the counterpoint and changing textures. The piece begins with pointillistic rhythms followed by a blues-like middle section featuring some improvisation. Sostenuto lines give way to soloistic passages over slowly evolving harmonies. A brief transition leads into a recapitulation of the opening material where, after a momentary loss of verve, the ensemble re-enters with renewed vigor and drives the piece to its close.
LISTEN
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.