Studies in Opposition

Program Note

It is often (but not always) the goal of a composer to meticulously craft a work in which instruments are perfect complements to one another, creating a consistent sense of cohesion as the musicians work towards a musical goal together. However, this to me isn’t a very realistic depiction of the actual process of working towards a goal or solving a problem with others. Instead, as we all know, a lot of the time there is negative discourse or obstacles involved that only end up making a goal seem further away, or that polarize the people that are supposed to be working together. Therefore, to reach a goal or to solve a problem, these obstacles need to be overcome and differences need to be put aside. 

 

This process of meeting in the middle and overcoming these differences is the inspiration of this piece, in which the flute and piano are pit against each other in a variety of ways: melodically in the first movement; metrically and rhythmically in the second movement; and temporally in the final movement. By the end of the work, though, the instruments finally come together and the music ends with the instruments in unity, having overcome the various obstacles that have driven them apart at various points throughout the work.

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Movements

I. Nocturnal Dialogues

II. Passepied

III. Chaconne

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Written for

Abigail Brown and Dominick Travis, Flute

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Duration

15'​