w19564
| Title | To Reach and to Hold On |
| Contributors |
Jane Serter (composer) |
| Composition date | 2011 |
| Duration (mins) | 6 |
| Category | chamber duo woodwind |
| Instrumentation | Ob Cl |
| Commissioned by | |
| Key signature | |
| First line | |
| First performed | 2013 Catherine Pluygers, Philip Edwards London New Wind Festival |
| Notes | There are 2 copies of this piece; one with the clarinet at concert pitch and the other with the clarinet at transposed pitch. |
| Programme Note | The piece begins with the oboe trying to hold on to one note. However, there is slipping from the note to either side, as quarter tones and semitones gradually intrude. Meanwhile, the clarinet struggles to free itself from its note and either jumps up to try and reach the oboe note from a low note, or jumps down from a high note to reach the oboe note. Each instrument gradually expands from its one note in both directions, and eventually the two do meet on the same note. In a frantic attempt to keep meeting up, the music becomes much faster and they just manage to combine. A much slower, more lyrical section follows, as the two instruments gradually move upwards and eventually reach the tops of their ranges together - not without continually slipping backwards. A short fast coda shows that the two once more have slipped back, with the oboe buzzing around its original note and the clarinet dancing around it. At the end of the piece however, the two manage to reach up again and finish on their high notes. Obviously, there is the metaphor of two people trying to achieve their aims both as individuals, and also in trying to reach each other. The melodic material is based on an Eastern mode. - Jane Serter, June 2011 |
This work is associated with the following collection items:
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