Uprising
William Susman
About this work:
Originally composed for solo piano Uprising was orchestrated for a small standard orchestra in 1988.
The work takes it's title from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising which was the only unified attack by citizens in a metropolis that for a time successfully fought off the Nazis.
This work is similar in construction and sound to Susman's chamber work "Twisted Figures", 2nd quartet "Up to the Sky" and orchestral work also entitled "Uprising". The predominant gesture or melodic line incessantly rises while curving back on itself, an effect that appears to go upwards in pitch forever".
First explored by Susman in his widely performed "Trailing Vortices" (1986) this acoustic phenomenon is called Shepherd tones named after its discoverer Cognitive Psychologist Roger Shepherd.
The rhythmic technical prowess involved in successfully performing this work especially the opening bars are only for a small number of pianists. It may be that Susman's ideas from this period are more successfully executed with ensembles.
Uprising (1988) along with Floating Falling (1987) and Twisted Figures (1988) are works which begin to explore repetitive rhythms. These works look forward to his montuno / Afro-Cuban influenced music of the 90s and away from an older Eurocentric aesthetic.
Version: Orchestral version
Year composed: 1988
Duration: 00:13:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 1 Timpani, 1 Strings (General)