Interpretations (2003)

GRADE 4 • 9:30 • published by C. Alan Publications

Performance: Philharmonia à Vent Wind Orchestra | Conductor: John Boyd

PROGRAM NOTES

Interpretations was conceived as a collaborative arts project by composer Roger Cichy for the Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  This commission was designed to encompass several of the arts by drawing on the fine arts, music, and dance within the academy.  Mr. Cichy’s composition, therefore, is a musical ‘interpretation’ based on four selected student art pieces, hence the title.  Following the completion of the musical ‘interpretations’, the academy’s dance department choreographed dances based on the newly composed music.  Interpretations was premiered by projecting the original student artwork on a large screen as the Wind Ensemble and Dance Ensembles performed the work live.  

The opening movement Mask, based on a three-dimensional black and white mask, reflects the bipolar elements incorporated in its design.  Here Cichy uses the brasses and percussion in angular melodies, dramatic rhythms, and vertical harmonies to illustrate one aspect of the mask.  A lyrical and subdue texture is created by the woodwind section along with subtle percussion to act as the opposing pole.  

The indicated style marking for Shrouded Figure, “Sinister yet mysterious”, easily describes the character of this movement.  Cichy draws on several compositional techniques to enhance the mystery of the unidentified figure in the art piece.

The movement titled Popped Corn depicts a single kernel of popcorn as it lies with its energy spent on the burst, now in a motionless state.  The music for this movement incorporates a lazy blues style to imitate the lifeless dimensions of the still-life art piece.

Self Portrait (of the artist, not the composer) contains an array of colors and geometric patterns culminating in an image of a face.  In this movement, Cichy’s  use of irregular meters and quick tempos transposes the energy and impulse created by the artwork.

The artwork for which this composition is based on was created by the following student artists:
David Corner, Mask
Elizabeth Zeibig, Shrouded Figure
Greer Monaghan, Popped Corn
Marassa Streniste, Self Portrait

INSTRUMENTATION

Winds: Piccolo, Flute 1 & 2, Oboe 1 & 2, Bb Clarinet 1 - 3, Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Alto Saxophones 1 & 2, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Baritone Saxophone

Brass: Bb Trumpet 1 - 4, F Horn 1 & 2, Trombone 1 - 3, Euphonium, Tuba

Off-Stage Brass: Bb Trumpet 1 & 2, F Horn, Trombone

Percussion: Timpani, Percussion 1 (snare drum, bass drum, wood block, finger cymbals, suspended cymbals, small tom), Percussion 2 (suspended cymbal, vibra-slap, hi-hat, wind chimes, crash cymbals, 4 concert toms, temple blocks, congas, tambourine, tam-tam, slap stick, orchestra bells, triangle, finger cymbals), Percussion 3 (slap stick, chimes, vibraphone, xylophone, orchestra bells)