Product Description
"Cycles" for bassoon quartet honors those who lost loved
ones in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The title reflects both
the living earth upon which we live and the fortitude of humanity.
The first
movement depicts serenity interrupted by bombastic resemblances of earthquakes
and tsunamis. The movement is called "The Living Earth" as our planet is still
evolving by constantly building up pressure and releasing that pressure. The
opening serene section uses key clicks and wind sounds in the serenity section.
Pitch bends in the melody are designed to resemble a shakuhachi. Syncopated
explosions that use polytonal pentatonic scales represent the earthquake. Rapid
ascending and descending scale patterns depict the resultant tsunami.
The second
movement is a hymn song for the souls of the dead. It is called "Ashes to
Ashes" as it represents a different cycle, one of death and rebirth. Pentatonic
scales abound once again but this time they modulate gently from one tonality
to another instead of being used simultaneously.
A song of
redemption and hope for the survivors is the theme for the third and final
movement, "Resiliency of the Spirit". It depicts the strength of the human
spirit and it is the cycle of joy growing out of sorrow. Taiko drumming is the
major influence in this movement. It begins with a foot stomp followed by the
drummers warming up. A staccato rhythmic section that imitates the drums
follows this. A hymn-like theme in pentatonic is interpolated over this
rhythmic drumming bringing the movement and the piece to a hopeful conclusion.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.