Glimmer

Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Acoustic Guitar 1, Guitar 2 (Acoustic/Electric Guitars), Violin, Cello

Alternate Version of Glimmer Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Percussion (Vibraphone and Marimba), Violin, Viola, and Cello

World Premiere: Cygnus Ensemble: Tara Helen O'Connor (Flute), James Austin Smith (Oboe), William Anderson (Guitar), Oren Fader (Guitar), Calvin Wiersma (Violin), Susannah Chapman (Cello); April 2, 2015; Symphony Space, New York City

Duration: 10.5 minutes

Program Notes:

Glimmer was commissioned by the New Jersey Composers’ Guild for the Cygnus Ensemble. The title refers to both the music itself and to the ensemble’s name, Cygnus, which is also a star constellation. Likewise, the frequent hocketting (alternating notes back and forth) between different instruments creates a “glimmering” sound that further depicts the stars. The hocketting causes the listener to hear one instrument briefly play a note or two, followed by another instrument continuing the melody. In addition to the melodies “glimmering,” often the individual notes glimmer when one instrument begins the initial attack while another instrument sustains the note.

In addition to the hocketting melodies, which are reminiscent of music from the Renaissance and Middle Ages, the use of contrapuntal melodies, especially canons, references early music. On the other hand, the fast pace and strong sense of rhythm were influenced by rock music.