Elementals
quintet for viola, alto saxophone, Bb trumpet, marimba, and piano
(2019) Duration: 9:00
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Elementals, a quintet for viola, alto saxophone, trumpet, marimba, and piano, was commissioned by the 2020 Governor’s School for the Arts for the instrumental performance faculty and is dedicated to them: Nancy Campbell – viola, Doug Drewek – also saxophone, Rich Byrd – trumpet, Jim Corcoran – percussion, and Don Speer – piano. The commission requested that performance of the work would also be possible by excellent high school students who attend the Governor’s School for the Arts.
The title refers to the many magical, nature spirits found in stories and folklore from around the world. These beings are typically imbued with special or supernatural powers or secrets. They are typically categorized by the four elemental types: earth, air, water, and fire.
Elementals have diverse characteristics and are often described according to several archetypes such as playful and mischievous, gentle and benevolent, grumpy and secretive, or malevolent, for example.
The movement titles of Elementals (Leprechauns, Sirens, and Pixies) were chosen because these are three well known elemental characters, and because I felt that the music reminded me a little of their personalities. Leprechauns are fun loving but unpredictable tricksters. Sirens are seductive and cause a loss of rational consciousness and restraint. Pixies are generally happy and benign but are deceptive and love to play confusing little tricks.
Each movement is short, a little under three minutes. The performance time of the three movements combined is about nine minutes.
– Steve Rouse
December 2019
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PERFORMANCE NOTES:
Most of the score is straightforward and doesn't need explanation or clarification. However, the central section of movement two, Sirens, is designed for possible flexibility of synchronization. The notes in the score say that synchronization is acceptable, but so is non-synchronization. If each performer is playing at approximately the notated tempo of quarter note equals 56, the music will sort itself out from a timing perspective, even if things are not perfectly synchronized. Of course, performing the music exactly as noted, or synchronously, is acceptable, too. Is this just a mischievous little trick?
In movement three, Pixies, parenthetical pitches in glissandi figures are only approximate. These may occur at the beginning or the end of a glissando, or both. They are used to indicate an approximate starting and/or ending point of the glissando.
Cover photo by Alexa from Pixabay