BENEFICIENT SHADOW - SEXTET FOR WINDS

Composer: 
Thomas L. Read
Instrumentation freestyle: 
fl/pic; fl/bsfl; cl1, cl2/bscl, bsn1, bsn2
Year Authored: 
2010
Duration (min): 
18
Alternate Title: 
Sextet for Winds, or Wind Sextet
First Performance: 
Sept. 25, 2010

While considering possibilities for fulfilling the VCME’s woodwind commission I happened upon reproductions of two famous paintings: The Mountain (Summertime), by Balthus, and Melancholy and Mystery of a Street, by De Chirico. The haunting treatment of shadows in these paintings was suggestive, leading me to a general musical conception of this piece. Ultimately, literary as well as visual shadow-symbol phantasmagoria inspired musical content, even encouraging my choice of instrumentation: two flutesdoubling piccolo and bass flute, two clarinets-doubling bass clarinet, and two bassoons.

Publisher: 
ACA
Publisher URL: 
American Composers Alliance

Ensemble Type

Instruments