A Road Less Traveled

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — A Road Less Traveled is a musical journey based on four notes. The cellos and basses provide these notes in mm. 2 and 3. The piece explores some new compositional techniques for me, and in some sections can be considered minimalist. However, I constructed the piece in a very accessible manner. The individual rhythms create new composite rhythms when played together. It has a unique clockwork quality to it. The music morphs from arco to pizzicato at m. 49. The odd accents bring out some of the quirky quality to the music. A return to arco playing at m. 94 provides a recapitulation of the opening section. Upon return, some of the punchy music now becomes sustained for a dramatic climax. This piece was a real joy to work on, and illustrates “a road less traveled” in my compositional career. This is a striking and original piece that builds interest and momentum using a four note cello and bass ostinato. Arco and pizzicato contrasts of texture and off-beat accents and rhythms sustain interest in this unusual selection, which puts minimal musical resources to maximum use.