Lament

Complete Work Title: 

Lament


Performance Medium: 

saxophone (SATB), double-reed (ob, eh, 2 bn), or clarinet (2 Bb, 2 Bb bass) quartet


Duration: 

c.7:00


Dedication: 

in memoriam Joe Nobile


Date Composed: 

September 1995


Performance/Broadcast History: 
  • 1 November 2013; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) [transcription for historical instruments by Paul Leenhouts]

    UNT Early Music Ensemble; Joseph Klein, conductor

  • 11 September 2005; Dallas Public Library (Dallas, TX)
  • 6 September 2005; Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)
  • 5 September 2005; University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

    UNT Graduate Saxophone Quartet (Ann Bradfield, Chiaki Hanafusa, Greg Dewhirst, Sarah Roberts)

  • 2 February 2001; Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL) — FSU New Music Festival 2001

    Dinant Saxophone Quartet

  • 28 February 2000; Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL) — WIU New Music Festival 2000

    WIU Saxophone Quartet (John Vana, Holly Hubbs, John Blank, Patrick Wilson)

  • 11 October 1999; University of North Texas (Denton, TX) [premiere]

    UNT Graduate Saxophone Quartet (Todd Gentzel, Abner Baez, Lisa Michaels, Aaron Lington)


Program Notes: 

Lament was composed in September of 1995 for the funeral service of the composer's grandfather, Joe Nobile.

Because the work is intended primarily as Gebrauchsmusik — i.e., for functional purposes — certain practical considerations have been observed during its composition. In the first place, the harmonic and melodic language are traditionally based, resulting in a more accessible and seemingly "familiar" style. Secondly, the work consists of four distinct voice parts (SATB), lending itself to a variety of possible transcriptions (e.g. double-reed quartet, saxophone quartet, string orchestra, solo guitar, etc.). Finally, the work is texturally static and repetitious, thus making it suitable for more passive listening.

These practical considerations superseded all other compositional decisions in the creation of Lament. With this in mind, a series of processes was devised in order to create a tonally based isorhythmic moto perpetuo in three parts. The first line consists of a descending 4-note scale pattern, two beats per note, cycling through a circle of fifths in two measure increments. The second line consists of an ascending 4-note scale pattern, one note per beat, cycling through a circle of fifths in one measure increments. The third line consists of a twelve-tone row, three beats per note, which completes a cycle every 36 beats. The composite isorhythmic patterns require 288 beats to cycle completely, and the entire work is divided into three equal strophes of 96 beats each. Interpolated among these three lines is a freely structured fourth line which is in continuous motion throughout. With the exception of the first line (which remains exclusively in the bass voice), these lines are in constant flux within the three upper voices, meandering elusively through the texture.

The resulting music is stylistically indebted to three diverse composers: Maurice Ravel (primarily in the harmonic and melodic content), Johannes Brahms (rhythmic and contrapuntal elements), and Johannes Ockeghem (textural density and phrase structure).