verges

Hear an excerpt of this piece.

Composer: Bruce Hamilton
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello
Year Composed: 1996
Duration: 12 minutes, 45 seconds
Cost:

• Rental: $95.00
  
• Purchase: $120.00
  

• Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Bloomington, IN (December 1997)
• Midwest Composers’ Symposium, Oberlin, OH (November 1997)
• ALEA III, Boston University, Boston, MA (September 1997)

verges, a one movement work for mixed septet, explores relationships between unison-rhythm and polyrhythm; and concepts of transition and arrival. Of the many sections in the piece, some have clear arrival points while others crossfade with the preceding section. Some sections are in a state of constant transformation themselves; this morphing quality is contrasted by very direct "cross-cutting" passages. Generally, the parts that frame the piece tend to be polyrhythmic and atmospheric while the central sections feature more cohesive textures and driving rhythms. The overall effect is of ensemble convergence, followed by several heated exchanges, and finally dissipation. Extremely demanding solo passages were written as "gifts" for the players of the original ensemble. verges was written in Bloomington, Indiana in 1996.