Title Pagodas Sailing in Clouds
Date of composing September 2017
Duration [3’04”]
Genre piece for woodwind quartet (flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon)
Style contemporary, ethnic (Asian), neo-romantic, post-impressionistic
Copyright © 2017 Natalia Pispini
Description
In F. Adagio arioso. This is about something vague, obscure and ever-changing like clouds in mountains and objects behind them that appear and disappear. During the process of composition the images of distant beautiful pagodas came to my mind, which are hidden in mountain clouds in motion.
The piece is composed with use of contrapuntal technique of imitations and variation technique, and it is implementing different types of the pentatonic scale. It has the form A A1 A2 A3 where A2 and A3 can also be interpreted as a middle section and a recapitulation. There are 3 contrast themes: the ‘calls’ (in the beginnings of each phrase), the theme with contrapuntal ‘flowing’ texture (the ‘body’ of the phrases), and the staccato motifs (in the end of phrases). The ‘calls’ are played with delay which creates the sonoric effect of folk-like playing, a bit out of coordination.
Performance notes
No extended technique is required. Flexibility in reading modal scales and non-standard rhythm, good skills of playing within extended pitch ranges, and quick staccato technique (for flute, clarinet and bassoon) are necessary for the best performance of this composition.
Listen to the MIDI-generated excerpt on YouTube
! This work may be commissioned or/and performed. If you want to play this piece, please contact Natalia. In your message, kindly provide some information (brief introduction, ensemble title, website, contact details). The score, parts and all necessary material will be sent to you within a week.
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