Twisted Figures
William Susman
About this work:
The first performance of this work was given by ALEA III with Theodore Antoniou conducting at Boston University in 1988.
Twisted Figures is a work that requires virtuosity and rhythmic precision in its execution. The repetitive melodic and rhythmic sequences are based on the fibonacci series combined with isorhythm.
The constant drive of the upward melodic gesture is a continuation of Susman's study of "Shepherd tones" and fluid mechanics in earlier works such as "Trailing Vortices". Shepherd tones are an acoustical phenomenon where the pitch appears to rise forever.
A numeric sequence of 12321 cycling upwards is represented by the scale C#,D,E,G,A,Bb,C,Eb,F,F#,G#,B. From this unique scale, Susman extracts his harmonic material, initially inverted triads of A major, G minor, F minor and B major.
The fibonacci-based rhythms here in many ways sound similar and evolved into the repetitive montuño rhythms dominating his music a few years later in the 1990s in such works as "The Starry Dynamo", "Moving in to an Empty Space", "Motions of Return", and "Six Minutes Thirty Seconds".
Floating Falling (1987) along with Twisted Figures (1988) and Uprising (1989) 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.
An interesting anecdote - when the ensemble ALEA III returned the parts to Susman someone had written on one of them "twisted fingers". A fitting sub-title for a rhythmically challenging composition.
Year composed: 1987
Duration: 00:09:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: one mallet percussionist only (glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone