Wayfaring

Description

Guitar, Flute 1, Flute 2, Oboe 1, Oboe 2, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2, Horn 1, Horn 2, Cornet in Bb 1, Trumpet 1, Cornet in Bb 2, Trumpet 2, Percussion, Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Wood Block, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Temple Block 4, Triangle, Glockenspiel, Tom-tom 3, Bongos, Tom-tom, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Double Bass — I am a poor wayfaring strangera-traveling through this world of woe,but there's no sickness or toil or dangerin that bright world to which I go.I'm going there to see my father.I'm going there no more to roam.I'm just a-going over Jordan.I'm just a-going over home.The words and tune of the folk song/spiritual, "Wayfaring Stranger", provided the spring from which this piece flowed. Fragments of the lyrics, along with their musical settings as I heard them, provided the source material for each movement.The first movement is a mercurial journey, traveling quickly through diverse terrains of musical motives and tonal centers, always moving forward, or perhaps more accurately, around in a spiral that has a sense of circling back, but never quite does, as the circumstances keep changing. Only at the end is there a recall of the opening, but it is now a distant memory.The second movement is essentially rooted in the key of e minor. In this context, the dissonant pitch F-natural provides life's F--- You - one of those elements of life that sometimes disturb the balance and harmony that we all seek. A solo guitar arrangement of "Wayfaring Stranger" acts as a Coda to this movement. It was the first thing I wrote when beginning the concerto, and it is the melodic and harmonic heart of the entire work.A return to a simpler tonality marks the final movement. It is a kind of coming home - a return, in fact, to my roots as a singer of international folk songs in my early teens. It envisions "going over Jordan" as a joyful, palliative relief of suffering, while leaving for a "bright world".I am extremely grateful to Pepe Romero, who makes the guitar sing like no one else, for commissioning this piece from me, and to Brian and Tamara Hays, who generously provided the financial support for this commission. Wayfaring was completed in 2022 and is scored for solo guitar, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 cornets (or trumpets), percussion (bass drum, suspended cymbal, wood blocks, xylophone, vibraphone, temple blocks, triangle, glockenspiel, tom-toms and bongos) and strings. This work, first premiered at the Hamptons Festival of Music in September 2023, was the result of a commission by guitarist Pepe Romero from David Leisner. Pursuant to the terms of the Commission Agreement, Pepe Romero has the exclusive right to perform as the soloist for all performances through and including September 3, 2026.