Idle Hands are the Devil's Workshop
Jay Anthony Gach
About this work:
click perusal score for a quick download of the music score> IDLE HANDS ARE THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP" is a humorous, light-hearted satire using the title as a referential image. The first movement - subtitled "He always greets you with a smile..." - features the Fortepiano in a kind of mini-concerto, calling frequent attention to itself with sly, crafty, classically influenced cadenzas. The second movement subtitled "but his is a sharp tongue and wicked designs" integrates the Fortepiano with the ensemble in fast, sharply articulated and deliciously wicked music. The character of the slower third movement is suggested by the subtitle "Of stealth and wile, yet through the front door he enters..." The last movement, "why does the devil get all the good tunes?" must, of course, give the devil his due: a very fast, satanically tuneful march. JAG
Year composed: 2005
Duration: 12:00:80
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: fl.,ob.,cl.,bssn.,hn.,trpt.,amplified fortepiano/harpsichord, bass