Broken Cries
David Liptak
About this work:
Broken Cries is music that begins filled with hesitation. Pauses and silences break the flow of sounds, as a voiced cry is sometimes stopped by a breath or, perhaps, a sudden thought. The music is in one movement with three sections. The first, called breathing, is slow and deliberate, with many breaks of sound. The second, called singing, moves in a more continuous way. Two lead cellos alternate melodic figures in a "call and response," as the rest of the ensemble divides into support for one or the other. In the third section, called letting go, the hesitations are nearly gone, and the music dances. A brief, reflective coda concludes the piece. The composition of Broken Cries took place in the summer months of 2001, and the piece was written for the Tarab Cello Ensemble.
Published by American Composers Edition
Bridge Records 9176
Year composed: 2001
Duration: 00:10:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation: 8 Cello