Unseen Origin

2 pianos, 2 mallet percussion

duration 9'30”

Unseen Origin (2005) for two pianos and two mallet percussion was composed only several weeks prior to my first son Owen’s birth. The excitement and trepidation I experienced in anticipation of such an awesome, life-changing event led me to contemplate meaning and what is truly important in my own life. In this work, I create a musical metaphor for this search through the use of a core progression of six chords. Figuratively, I treat this progression as the meaning being sought, the goal being pursued, and enlightenment achieved through contemplation. The entire work consists of a musical journey in which the progression is gradually, though never overtly, revealed. At times the music focuses on one chord, while at other points the progression is expanded by interpolations between the chords. A second source of inspiration is the music of composer Magnus Lindberg, whose work with harmonic progression is the topic of my doctoral dissertation. Unseen Origin was composed for percussionist Sean Darby for a recital featuring new works for two pianists and two percussionists.

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PDF: $28.00 USD - one score formatted for 11x17” landscape (PDF) and one set of four parts formatted for 8.5x11” portrait (PDF).

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