Six Minutes Thirty Seconds
William Susman
About this work:
Composed for the City Winds this wind quintet was first performed in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center in 1995. The City Winds subsequently took the work on their East Coast tour in the mid 90s.
The title "Six Minutes Thirty Seconds" refers to an approximate duration. If this piece is played at the tempi indicated in the score, it will last for roughly 6:30.
Time is an important if not the most important element in music. We shape sound through the passing of time.
It used to be a convention to indicate tempo through words such as moderato, allegro, or presto. As metronomes became popular two hundred years ago, one could be more exact about speed.
Ultimately, tempo markings such as a 1/4-note = 152 were equated with terms such as Allegro. However, even with the exactitude of a metronome marking there may be fluctuations in time due to interpretation.
When Susman wrote this work he was exploring the new possibilities of combining his Afro-Cuban rhythmic explorations of montuño with the notion of time as rhythm. Much of his music of the 90s explored the repetitive rhythms heard in Afro-Cuban music. One such gesture is the montuño a repeated syncopated line or obligato often assigned to the piano which outlines the harmonic structure. Susman also uses medieval rhythmic and counterpuntal devices called hocket and isorhythm.
Susman liked the idea of working with the sound of the wind quintet and also the fact that it was a conventional ensemble that enjoyed expanding it's repertoire. He hoped that it would find a home with the City Winds and was pleased that they gave it many performances.
Year composed: 1995
Duration: 00:06:30
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Woodwind Quintet
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F
Instrumentation notes: Standard woodwind quintet. No doublings.