Score
Daydreams and Nightmares : for brass quintet / May Lyon.
Library shelf no. 785.915/LYO 1 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
Daydreams & Nightmares is a work for Brass Quintet that uses two melodic themes that are varied using the technique of mensuration canon. The first theme is a short legato statement that appears in the opening statement. The second theme is comprised of short, quick gestures and is introduced in section A. The similarity between the two is intervallic, (an avoidance of 3rds and 6ths with a high use of 2nds and 4ths), and modal, (D Dorian and B Locrian). Both themes are adapted using modal transposition, inversion and retrograde variations, and octave displacement. Initially inspired by R. L. Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, one of the original ideas for Daydreams & Nightmares was juxtaposition and opposing forces. I have attempted to use the abilities of the brass quintet to achieve this aim.
Programmatically, the work is initially calm, rather like a daydream, but the jaggedness of the second theme is suggestive of being woken from a reverie, or perhaps of falling into a nightmare. The calmer first theme leads into darker thoughts, eventually becoming full night terrors. The piece ends on an uneasy tranquillity. Overall, there becomes little division between the two states, as of one drifting between asleep and awake.
"You must suffer me to go my own dark way." - Robert L Stevenson, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Work Details
Year: 2012
Instrumentation: 2 trumpets in C, horn in F, tenor trombone, bass trombone.
Duration: 6 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
First performance: by Josh Rogan, Allison Wright, Georgia Ioakimidis-Macdougall, Ashley Carter, Tim Duncan — May 12. Australian National Academy of Music, VIC
Performances of this work
May 12: Australian National Academy of Music, VIC. Featuring Josh Rogan, Allison Wright, Georgia Ioakimidis-Macdougall, Ashley Carter, Tim Duncan.
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