I meant to finish this much earlier - but I was "delayed" mostly for 2 reasons:
- I wanted to write a piece that alluded to the brass bands of Romania. I wanted that "wild", "raw", "coarse", "rough", "noisy" sound. And of course, that means there are allusions to Janacek too - since the brass bands of that entire region are very similar. But at the same time, "mentally" I moved on, I want to try completely different sounds and writing, next time. And I am anxious to do that, so my mind wasn't entirely on this particular brass piece. Even though, I subjectively think it is "fun"!
- I spent a good number of days, uploading and backing up all my photos and videos, online. And that wasn't very productive, otherwise, as I was for most of those days in acute nostalgia, completely distracted.
This is the second brass piece, following "Tomorrow". I wrote this for "standard" size section + 3 extra trumpets. But how I wish I had 9 trumpets like Janacek, and maybe 8 horns and 6 trombones and 2 timpanists!
Similarly I used "small" cells that develop through repetition and variation, through the piece.
One "peculiar" thing about Romanian brass bands is that often the "melody" is played by 4-5 instruments at the same time. But they are not really in unison. They all have their own personality! Sometimes (but not always!) they start and finish more or less at the same time - but in between, each instrument presents its own version of the "melody", maybe rhythmically different, with different ornaments, embellishments, etc. Is like you always have multiple versions of the melody at the same time! It's quite amazing, I think!
Here is a demo of the piece - the cover photo is of "Portrait of Mlle Pogany" by Brancusi.
- I wanted to write a piece that alluded to the brass bands of Romania. I wanted that "wild", "raw", "coarse", "rough", "noisy" sound. And of course, that means there are allusions to Janacek too - since the brass bands of that entire region are very similar. But at the same time, "mentally" I moved on, I want to try completely different sounds and writing, next time. And I am anxious to do that, so my mind wasn't entirely on this particular brass piece. Even though, I subjectively think it is "fun"!
- I spent a good number of days, uploading and backing up all my photos and videos, online. And that wasn't very productive, otherwise, as I was for most of those days in acute nostalgia, completely distracted.
This is the second brass piece, following "Tomorrow". I wrote this for "standard" size section + 3 extra trumpets. But how I wish I had 9 trumpets like Janacek, and maybe 8 horns and 6 trombones and 2 timpanists!
Similarly I used "small" cells that develop through repetition and variation, through the piece.
One "peculiar" thing about Romanian brass bands is that often the "melody" is played by 4-5 instruments at the same time. But they are not really in unison. They all have their own personality! Sometimes (but not always!) they start and finish more or less at the same time - but in between, each instrument presents its own version of the "melody", maybe rhythmically different, with different ornaments, embellishments, etc. Is like you always have multiple versions of the melody at the same time! It's quite amazing, I think!
Here is a demo of the piece - the cover photo is of "Portrait of Mlle Pogany" by Brancusi.
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