Shattered Glass
Margaret Brouwer
About this work:
Shattered Glass was written for and is dedicated to MOSAIC. The unique instrumentation of MOSAIC - flute, cello, percussion and piano immediately inspired interesting timbral possibilities which in many ways became the driving force of this work, along with the plan to feature the virtuosity of these musicians. The work opens with a 9-note row, which becomes an important element as well. There are two contrasting yet related sound worlds in Shattered Glass. A soft but brittle atmosphere with sharp stabs of piercing sound that sometimes builds to wild cacophonous moments is contrasted with soft, blurred, mysterious sections that still have tiny intrusions of bright, pointed stabs of sound. The brittle and blurred timbres eventually mix and overlap becoming sometimes rhythmic, sometimes raucous, and sometimes mysterious and melodic. There are solos for each instrumentalist throughout the work culminating in short, rhapsodic, cadenza-like flourishes for each.
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 00:10:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: 3 tom toms, bongos, 5 temple blocks, 3 Chinese opera gongs, tam tam