Robert Carl

pf

Blues Box was composed for Marcel Worms and his "Blues Project". Wormsis looking for pieces which express or touch on the spirit of the blues, not exactimitations. This work is a nocturne, and one which achieves its character through astruggle of sorts. It is almost completely serial, an approach I almost never use. Butin this case, the conflict between the strict dictates of row and extemporaneous spiritof the blues was a spur to my own creativity. In keeping with an image from a lot ofclassic blues, I see the underlying matrix as something like the grid of prison barsagainst which the music rails. In addition, the piece obeys two other musicalmandates: 1) the chord voicings and general registration of its lines mimic overtonerelations as closely as possible, and 2) the piece---a set of twelve variants on atheme/row presented in the first phrase---follows the harmonic macro-structure oftwelve-bar blues, the relevant rows centered on the first, fourth, and fifth degrees inthat structure.
And when all that technical explanation is said and done, I hope the music moans. ----Robert Carl
Note on alternative presentations:Blues Box may be paired with my Warm Waxing Wail for singer/pianist,preferably as a prelude. In addition, if my Swing Shift is added as a thirdmovement, the three works constitute a "Blues Sonatina."