Chamber Dances (2019)

for 17 Instruments [1.1.2(II=Bcl).1 - 1.1.1.0 - 2perc* - pno - harp - strings(1.1.1.1.1)]

Duration: 7’

Premiered: May 23, 2019 @ The Cotton Factory, Hamilton ON  

Gemma New (conductor), Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra

Programme Note:

Although the title, Chamber Dances, may imply a set of music depicting various dance forms, the piece instead treats the musicians as the dancers and explores the visceral gestures and relationships between one another. Throughout the piece, the instruments interact in differing roles ranging from supportive, reactive, imitative, and combative. The individual instruments and families each “move” in their own unique ways, and these movements are repeated and examined in various environments. This creates a sort of musical iconography wherein the same musical gestures are juxtaposed in a new situation and adopt an alternative function. The material is also written in a manner in which to create distinct physicalities in how the musicians perform, often sharing certain gestures and movements in both musical and somatic dialogue. Chamber Dances was commissioned by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their inaugural Composer Fellowship Program.

*Percussion instrumentation:

I = 2 Woodblocks (low/high), Bongos, 2 Congas (low/high)

II = Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Guiro, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, 4 Glass Bottles (low to high)