For horn in F and piano [12:00 – 13:15]. Composed for Wallace Easter.

Sky in Lighthouse is a collage of several blocks of music, each of which was made by layering different compositional processes. In the first block, silence is as meaningful as sound — the releases of sounds (or attacks of silences) are as precise as the attacks of sounds (or releases of silences). In the second block, almost every pairing of two simultaneous pitches occurs only once. This process is also applied to relative three-pitch sequences. In the third block, the hornist tries to play extremely difficult passages, and the inevitable mistakes from this are part of the performance; also in the third block, the pianist is sustaining pointillistic notes with a sustain pedal. During most of this piece, the hornist and pianist are fighting for the spotlight, using dynamics and virtuosic playing. Many passages in this piece are very difficult and require intense concentration by the performers; hopefully, as is the effect in New Complexity music, this high-level concentration and uncertainty of success will create a feverish energy.

Performances

Apr 27, 2018. Perform Studio, Moss Arts Center. Blacksburg, VA. Performed at DJ Malinowski’s Senior Composition Recital by Wallace Easter and DJ Malinowski.

Apr 24, 2018. P. Buckley Moss Gallery. Blacksburg, VA. Performed at New Music Blacksburg by Wallace Easter and DJ Malinowski.