Notion of Commotion
SATB choir & piano four-hands commissioned by Via Nova Chor & Duo d'Accord 1. Rush Hour Rumble 2. Subterra Nocturna 3. The Silver Streak (dur. 17 minutes) World Premiere: November 1, 2014
Via Nova Choir & Duo d'Accord Hochschule für Musik und Theater - Munich, Germany ...the three movements of Notion of Commotion captured the chugging locomotive-like sounds of the morning rush hour, the nocturnal silence of the night and the grooving, light-hearted intoxication of a Saturday evening.
- Musikerlebnis Süddeutsche Zeitung |
The work's title, Notion of Commotion, touches upon what many consider to be the New York City subway's most endearing and defining characteristic: organized mayhem. It's one of the largest and oldest subway systems in the world. When one takes into account its maze-like complexity, it seems a modern marvel that it actually works! It's the lifeblood of the metropolis and quite possibly the most important reason for the city's prosperous growth. I chose to focus on three aspects of underground life; the hectic morning rush hour, the dream-like dead of night and the spirited weekend euphoria. The musical language varies from movement to movement in a sort of stylistic "melting pot" with certain emphasis placed upon American genres like blues and jazz. The text is a combination of automated subway public announcements, train sounds, overheard conversations and my own personal poetic sentiments.
Rush Hour Rumble captures the crazy, frenetic energy of the subway as it carries thousands upon thousands of people throughout the city during the busiest time of day. One hears the rhythmic "Cha-ka cha cha-ka" of the trains as they travel speedily along the tracks. Commuters sprint down the stairs, jostling for position on crowded platforms with frantic cries of "I will be late!" and "Hold the doors!". Not to be left out, the subway itself is given voice with interjections like "this human headache" and "my wheels are sore". All the while, as this battle (or ballet) wages between man and machine, the pianists chug along with a rumbly, insistent and edgy rhythm in 3/4 time.
Any metropolis in the middle of the night can be a somewhat strange and fantastical place - filled with eerie energy, odd sounds and even odder people. Subterra Nocturna expresses that haunting darkness which envelopes the underground when most of the city is fast asleep. The hustle and bustle of the day gives way to a muted sense of serenity and loneliness. One's mind mingles with abstract thoughts and imagined demons. The subway is empty, trains run less frequent and intermittent noises echo throughout its cavernous labyrinth. The movement's flowing, rhythmic middle section in 5/8 is surrounded by two slightly agitated and atmospheric sections - somewhat reminiscent of Bartok's Adagio from Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.
When I travel the busy subway on a Friday or Saturday night I can't help but to hear the energizing swing and sultry shuffle of jazz. The city is full of excitement as people head off to bars, dinners and shows. The Silver Streak, in an inexhaustible tap-dance of clanging metal, carries these eager revelers all over the urban playground. After the pianists set down a finger-snapping groove in the opening bars, the choir calls out with "Uptown, Downtown, Queensbound, Bronxbound - shuffling along into the night" - and the pace never lets up, culminating at movement's end with the pianists taking the rhythmic lead in an upbeat, bluesy and Gershwinesque climax.
Rush Hour Rumble captures the crazy, frenetic energy of the subway as it carries thousands upon thousands of people throughout the city during the busiest time of day. One hears the rhythmic "Cha-ka cha cha-ka" of the trains as they travel speedily along the tracks. Commuters sprint down the stairs, jostling for position on crowded platforms with frantic cries of "I will be late!" and "Hold the doors!". Not to be left out, the subway itself is given voice with interjections like "this human headache" and "my wheels are sore". All the while, as this battle (or ballet) wages between man and machine, the pianists chug along with a rumbly, insistent and edgy rhythm in 3/4 time.
Any metropolis in the middle of the night can be a somewhat strange and fantastical place - filled with eerie energy, odd sounds and even odder people. Subterra Nocturna expresses that haunting darkness which envelopes the underground when most of the city is fast asleep. The hustle and bustle of the day gives way to a muted sense of serenity and loneliness. One's mind mingles with abstract thoughts and imagined demons. The subway is empty, trains run less frequent and intermittent noises echo throughout its cavernous labyrinth. The movement's flowing, rhythmic middle section in 5/8 is surrounded by two slightly agitated and atmospheric sections - somewhat reminiscent of Bartok's Adagio from Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.
When I travel the busy subway on a Friday or Saturday night I can't help but to hear the energizing swing and sultry shuffle of jazz. The city is full of excitement as people head off to bars, dinners and shows. The Silver Streak, in an inexhaustible tap-dance of clanging metal, carries these eager revelers all over the urban playground. After the pianists set down a finger-snapping groove in the opening bars, the choir calls out with "Uptown, Downtown, Queensbound, Bronxbound - shuffling along into the night" - and the pace never lets up, culminating at movement's end with the pianists taking the rhythmic lead in an upbeat, bluesy and Gershwinesque climax.