Dikho for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.

A performance of my recent piece entitled "Dikho".

Performers:

Sergio Freeman, clarinet
Annalise Ohse, violin
Alan Richardson, cello
Todd Möllenberg, piano

Program Notes:

Dikho (2009) explores the contrast between two opposing musical characteristics: the serious and the comic. The title is the Greek word from which "dichotomy" is derived, and serves to illustrate the relationship between these two sides of the musical coin. In form, the movement resembles a rondo, returning to the opening material after multiple departures, while slightly altering the return each time.

The opening material, marked Insistent, overly serious, is a lugubrious homage to the serious music that emerged in the mid-20th century. With a blatant nod to Messiaens opening measures of his Turangalila Symphony and the Danse de la fureur from Quatuor la fin du Temps, the piece begins with a unison exposition of not one, but two (!) twelve-tone rows in straight sixteenth notes, complete with shifting accents, frequent time signature changes, dense counterpoint, imitation, and chromaticism. Luckily, this seriousness lasts no more than a few seconds, before the opposition raises its voice in the form of a simple duet in the violin and cello. In complete contrast, the two only play consonant dyads in a dance- like rhythm, with brief interruptions from the piano. As the work ensues, these two musics compete with each other for dominance, and it is not until the last measures that the true victor emerges.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• dikho
• quartet
• for
• the
• end
• of
• time
• pierce
• gradone
• new
• music
• university
• texas
• clarinet
• violin
• cello
• piano

[pgradone]

Thanks, OniNoYami! I will soon be posting the remainder of the movement hope you enjoy them!

[eplacier]

I really enjoyed your piece, congratulations. I liked the expectedly unexpected finish. My greetings to Sergio, from Emmanuel Placier

[OniNoYami]

Absolutely amazing. I wish I could play that well (violinist). This is a wonderful piece. I never thought those instruments could go together! I have happily been proven wrong.