Essay for Orchestra
Jay Derderian
About this work:
"Essay for Orchestra" is a large scale, non-programmatic work for orchestra. Cast in a loose A-B-A form, it incorporates diverse textures and moods.
The opening 'A' section begins with a gigantic, yet very soft cluster chord, serving as a white noise pallet for the primary themes to be introduced. After a textural change and a collapse on a super dense F#, more energetic elements and motives are introduced.
The middle 'B' section is contrasting by being lyrical and developmental. The first violins introduce one of two primary themes to be developed and varied. Colors and motives are passed through each section, and thematic elements are varied and intensified as the section progresses.
The final recap of the 'A' section is slightly modified and concludes with a huge statement of the opening elliptical chord progression before leading into a short coda.
The "Essay" also incorporates a modified string section, as well as non-standard notations as book ends to the over-all architecture.
Year composed: 2008
Duration: 00:13:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: pic 2fl 2ob 2cl 2bsn, 4hn 4tpt 3trn tba, perc hp, 12 1st vln, 12 2nd vln, 12 vla, 6 vcl, 6 cb