Jody Rockmaker

Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello

Composer's Note:

When Elina and I first discussed this collaboration, she mentioned she was interested in "movement, not stillness," sine waves, and "falling in love with the sound." She expressed an interest in the Japanese Crane Dance. This last image became the overriding visual inspiration for the music.

I resisted the natural impulse to base the music on Eastern-sounding scales. (A cliched, knee-jerk reaction in my book! Such images are best left to the dancers.) Instead, I wanted the sound to emerge slowly, develop into harmony, and finally move to clear, brilliant melody. I also intended for the sense of movement to surface gradually. A single pitch sounding in each instrument produces an inner energy and tension that grows into more active lines as the timbres subtly shimmer and transform. These areas of "static movement" appear throughout the piece in contrast to the lively tunes.