Elastic Band (for septet)

Description

Elastic Band  is an edgy, playful work that fuses jazz, rock, funk, and classical idioms. It was conceived as a fun, divertimento-like work. The title refers to both the elastic nature of the work–which happily straddles the Classical, 21st Century, and Pop music worlds–and to a pun: the ensemble writing is often more reminiscent of a jazz “little big band” than a traditional chamber ensemble. The original sextet scoring (clarinet and string quartet) has classical resonances. But, add percussion to the mix, and a decidedly jazzy-rock tinge emerges: the Mozart Clarinet Quintet… with a twist, if you will. When Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez (New Orchestra of Washington) and I discussed working together I told him that I always thought Elastic Band would make a great chamber orchestra piece. That led to the commission, which led to a series of performances with NoW, and then their recording on Geoffrey Silver’s superlative Acis label. As chamber ensembles requested Elastic Band, I wanted to keep the piece’s new fullness and concision, so I started my reduction from the chamber orchestra version. The first reduction was a Septet (2017, clarinet, string quintet, and percussion, gotta have that bass!), scored for Evan Solomon and Inscape Chamber Orchestra. For more info about this work click here.

Materials (score & parts) are available as downloadable PDF files.

Note bene: Elastic Band is available in the following “flavors” – chamber orchestra, octet, septet, and as a single movement (II. “Pure Happenchance”) for trio (clarinet, piano, percussion/drum set).