Fit to Live, a flexible form concerto for wind ensemble
Abstract
This work is a flexible form concerto for trumpet and wind ensemble. It
consists of several fixed sections, or modules, that can be put together in several
specific pre-determined ways to create various versions of the piece depending on a
soloist or ensemble's desires or logistical needs.
The inspiration for the piece comes from two visits: one to the American
Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, and one to the Perot Museum in
Dallas.
At the AMNH, four quotes from Teddy Roosevelt encircle the main rotunda as
you enter the building. These marble-etched words infuse the experience of the
subsequent exhibits with the adventurous spirit and sense of wonder that Roosevelt
had for the natural world. The pacing, rhythm and contour of these words serve as
the basis for all of the musical material in the piece.
At the Perot Museum in Dallas, the entire experience as a visitor is carefully
crafted via the architecture of the building itself. There are two choices in how to experience the museum: taking the stairs up each of the four floors one-by-one, or
taking an escalator to the top floor and working downwards. The form or 'route' of
the music is drawn from the architecture of this building. Each portion of the piece
represents a different set of exhibits on each floor of
the building, but there are only two main 'route' choices. By limiting some of the
formal possibilities, the piece achieves a balance of stability and flexibility.
While the pieces resulting from these various routes are strikingly different,
they each draw a similar musical conclusion overall, which is to say, a sense of
wonder and awe. This music is intended to be hopeful, optimistic, if not a little
unsettling. Whichever route is taken through the piece, there is always something left
to explore and to learn within the music—much in the same way as the pursuits of
scientific and historical knowledge
Table of Contents
Instrumentation -- Performance Notes -- Fit to live
Degree
D.M.A.