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Work Overview
It is no coincidence that the title Towards Affinity elicits the concept of 'Towards Infinity' - the inference being that either quality is unattainable. While the dramatic idea underpinning 'Towards Affinity' is one of discord between contrasting themes, perhaps symbolising the tension and conflict which arises between ideologies and allegiances, a musical unity is achieved by deriving all of the thematic and harmonic material from one common nine-note mode. Their differences are merely 'skin-deep'.
A tense and belligerent opening theme in the brass dominates the narrative from the outset, with several other important melodies calling out in consternation.
While some archetypically grand orchestral gestures are used to heighten this tension, each theme eventually receives the space to tell its own story, and to restore some equilibrium. A pastoral theme is heard initially on solo violin, then on oboe, while a more ornamental, folk inspired melody is introduced by the oboe and taken up by the piccolo. Two chorale-inspired themes appear at key points to comment on the narrative and to introduce an air of supplication. Even the tense opening theme undergoes a more lyrical transformation in the strings, showing its more vulnerable and expressive potential.
Just as the many contrasting melodies appear to be working towards an understanding, a chaotic cartoon-like polka crashes onto the scene, dissolving any sense of serious discourse. A climactic brass fanfare of one of the chorale melodies attempts to regain the narrative, before a final polka rendition of the pastoral theme catapults the piece back to the initial theme in a rocking eleven-beat Balkan 'Kopanitsa' rhythm, which is dominated by percussion and by the two note 'Jaws'-like semitone of that theme. Compromise and relaxation arrive in the final bars, with the pastoral theme gently intoned by the brass.
Work Details
Year: 2024
Instrumentation: Piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes (2nd doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets in B flat (2nd doubling bass clarinet in B flat), 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in B flat, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings.
Duration: 10 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Written for: The Metropolitan Orchestra
First performance: by The Metropolitan Orchestra, Sarah-Grace Williams — 10 Aug 24.
Performances of this work
10 Aug 24: featuring The Metropolitan Orchestra, Sarah-Grace Williams.
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