Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
Scored for: flute, oboe, sax, bassoon, viola, bass, marimba, piano Duration: 6 min. Premiere: 1/02, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, The Relâche Ensemble For: The Relâche Ensemble Published by: Angelfire Press. Contact Trudy Chan at Black Tea Music for score and parts.
Contact Andrea.
PROGRAM NOTE
TRAX is a short work based on rhythm, interval and motive that nods at different musical languages: jazz, funk, blues, baroque, romantic and 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.
TRAX (octet)
Scored for: flute, oboe, sax, bassoon, viola, bass, marimba, piano
Duration: 6 min.
Premiere: 1/02, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, The Relâche Ensemble
For: The Relâche Ensemble
Published by: Angelfire Press. Contact Trudy Chan at Black Tea Music for score and parts.
Contact Andrea.
PROGRAM NOTE
TRAX is a short work based on rhythm, interval and motive that nods at different musical languages: jazz, funk, blues, baroque, romantic and 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.
YOUTUBE
LISTEN: EXCERPTs
[audio:Trax2.mp3|titles=Trax]
[audio:https://www.andreaclearfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Trax-Excerpts.mp3]
LISTEN: ENTIRE WORK
[audio:https://www.andreaclearfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/02-TRAX-Austin-performance.mp3|width=82]