Tapestry

Benjamin Lees                                                     <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>


Tapestry (flute, Bb clarinet, cello, piano)<o:p></o:p>


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Program note by the composer<o:p></o:p>


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This work was commissioned by Pacific Serenades and written during the<o:p></o:p>


summer and autumn of 2003.  Since every composition has inherent problems of<o:p></o:p>


one kind or another, the one posed here was a question of balance.  A flute<o:p></o:p>


and clarinet form a natural combination, and the addition of a piano is an<o:p></o:p>


enhancement.  On the other hand, a cello and piano must be approached with<o:p></o:p>


great care, what with overtones running rampant.  And the addition of the<o:p></o:p>


cello to the three instruments is a challenge.  In this instance it was a<o:p></o:p>


challenge I accepted with pleasure.<o:p></o:p>


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The piece itself is in one movement and forms a continuous flow.  The opening<o:p></o:p>


statement by the flute, accompanied by the cello, is long and sinewy.  The<o:p></o:p>


statement is next taken up by the piano, again accompanied by the cello.<o:p></o:p>


What follows are arpeggiated figures and developments of the original idea.<o:p></o:p>


From that point on, what transpires throughout the entire work is a series<o:p></o:p>


of musical cells, or cameos, from arpeggiated figures taken up by one<o:p></o:p>


instrument and answered by another, to repeated notes, triplet figures and<o:p></o:p>


the like darting in and out in rapid succession. Meters are constantly<o:p></o:p>


shifting, adding to the sense of flow.<o:p></o:p>


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The work ends with powerful chords in the piano and cello being answered by<o:p></o:p>


the flute and clarinet with all four instruments joining in a heavily accented finale.<o:p></o:p>


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The title Tapestry seemed apt, for just as a hanging tapestry consists of a<o:p></o:p>


myriad of ideas all forming a cohesive whole, this work also consists of<o:p></o:p>


many small subjects that contribute to the overall texture.<o:p></o:p>


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