Contrasts for Euphonium and Piano Part 1

I have completed the slow section of this two-part piece and I am pleased with the results. However, I was not feeling that way while I was working on the piece. I mentioned in my last post that I was pleased with the beginning of the piece and will then need to see where the piece takes me. What I mean by this statement is that my music, as well as a lot of other contemporary music, is based on motives rather than themes or melodies that occur in regular phrases. Therefore the traditional formal treatments do not seem to apply and it is often unclear what structure the composition will take. It wasn't until Monday, when I reached the climax at measure 24, that the shape of this section became clear. This part is a loose ABA structure with the first A going from the beginning to measure 16, the B section from measure 17-25, and the last A, with some slight changes,from 26-42. A euphonium cadenza serves as an interlude to the upcoming Allegro.

The way each section is constructed is based on key motives that suggest new melodic ideas. The harmony is a result of the independent, yet related lines in the euphonium and in both hands of the piano. Let me identify some of the key motivic ideas and then you can try to find them being used in both the euphonium and piano parts throughout this section.

The opening 16th notes in the piano becomes what I call a noodling motif. It comes back in various forms in both instruments. The three 8th note idea that leads to longer note that occurs first in the euphonium melody in measure 1 to measure 2 is another important recurring idea. The two 16th notes followed by an 8th note which first occurs in the euphonium in measure 5 gets transformed in its melodic direction, but is an important unifying rhythmic idea. The syncopated 8th 1/4 8th rhythm that is used for sudden contrast in the piano in measure 3, dominates the middle section and is the main feature of the climax. The triplets, sextuplets, and 32nd notes all add rhythmic variety and are interspersed at key moments in this section and are also important in the cadenza. Another key element is the interval of an ascending minor 7th that is used throughout, but especially at the climaxes.

To see and hear what I have composed thus far, go to  http://www.cooppress.net/contrasts_blog.html

Dr. B