Advanced Composition Search: 1995

A chorale fantasy for organ based on Hassler's Passion Chorale ('O sacred Head, now wounded')

Die Berliner Hornisse (The Berlin Hornet) is a diptych
inspired by insect energy. The first movement, "Inside the
Hive" is a series of non-linear sonic snapshots, slight
"buzzings" that suggest strange, unaccountable tasks, rituals,
activities. This mysterious, almost absurd quality is underlined
by the fact that the pianist never plays on the keyboard in the
normal manner throughout. The second movement, "Stinger
Dance", is as focussed, directed, fast, and frenetic as the
opening movement is not. Its "presto possibile" tempo sets a
pace that never lets up. In one sense, it is a "flight of the
bumblebee" [more of a wasp here] for modern times. In its
virtuosity, it echoes two musical ghosts: John Coltane of Giant
Steps, and Niccolo Paganini of the Twenty-Fourth Caprice for
solo violin.

A work for piano of considerable technical difficulty, based on the baroque concept of the Chaconne-Variation form.