A Conflict of Opposites
Arlene Sierra
About this work: The initial idea and title for this piece came from one of the first known works of science fiction, L'Autre Monde, by Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-1655). The conflict he describes is a battle to the death between two mythical elemental beings: the salamander whose element is fire, and the remora, imagined as a fish whose element is ice. The former's advantage is speed and overwhelming heat while the latter's stillness, deathly cold and massive size render it impermeable.
Movement One is in a rondo form, its main theme derived from a cypher of the name of clarinettist Robert Bailis. The opposition of speed with stillness, and heat and cold, are characterized in the thematic development, which also features a short extract from an earlier work "Oda a la lagartija" (Ode to the Lizard), a setting of the poem of the same name by Pablo Neruda.
Movement Two employs a fragment of the first movement's main theme as a dance, first with the clarinet leading, later with the piano leading. The role of leader is set up, undermined, and abandoned as the dance transforms from a gentle exchange (recalling the Allegro grazioso from Ligeti's Six Bagatelles) into a struggle for dominance.
A Conflict of Opposites was commissioned by Kettle's Yard Art Gallery, Cambridge with grant-aid from the Fenton Arts Trust. It is dedicated with affection to Robert Bailis.
Version: Bb Clarinet or Violin & Piano
Year composed: 2005
Duration: 00:11:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Keyboard plus One Instrument
Instrumentation: 1 Clarinet, 1 Piano
Instrumentation notes: Version for Violin + Piano also available