Judith Shatin

Woodwind Quintet

Composer's Note:

Cinqchronie celebrates both the individuality and collaboration of the members of the wind quintet. The title, with its play on both "synchrony" and "chronos," as well as the French "cinq,' meaning five, refers to the plethora of interactions of the five members. The piece opens with each instrument handing a single pitch to another, showcasing their individual voices. Gradually, all the musical elements combine to shine a sonic light on both their individual timbres and their blending. One of the characteristics of their interactions is the phenomenon of streaming, creating syncopated rhythms among the parts.

Streaming creates new rhythms by changing the rate of motion of different layers, amplified by changes in register and timbre. Meanwhile, the harmonic underpinning shifts as well. This is underscored by overall arc, hinged on a single pitch that is transformed by the journey. At the end, the ensemble comes together again on a single pitch closing as the sound fades from that of a single voice into silence. Cinqchronie was commissioned by the Chamber Music Conference and Composers' Forum of the East, Inc., in 2019.