Touch-Tone
Alvez Barkoskie IV
About this work:
Touch-Tone from Woodwind Quintet No. 1 is based on a seven interval figure derived from my home phone number in St. Augustine, Florida. If one listens carefully when dialing out one will discover that there is a mixture of two pitches for each number on the phone. Also interesting are the patterns that arise: each arrangement of vertical numbers on a phone’s keypad has the same top note (i.e. 2, 5, 8 and 0 each have ‘f’ as the highest pitch in the interval). The bottom note of the interval moves stepwise. Similarly, moving horizontally across the keypad, each top note moves up by step and each bottom note remains static for the most part.
In addition to the pitch material, another interesting aspect of the 7 interval figure is its lack of symmetry. This allowed for some interesting meter choices and changes throughout the movement. More information about “Touch-Tone phones” may be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-tone_multi-frequency#Keypad. PS: Please don’t prank call me… my parents will get mad!
Performers for this recording are: Alison Olson, flute;
Sarah Bates, oboe;
Connor O’Meara, clarinet;
Reese Farnell, horn; and
Katie Clark, bassoon.
Performed at the Masters Composition Recital of Alvez Barkoskie IV, April 9, 2011.
Version: 2011 Revised Version
Year composed: 2010
Duration: 00:04:40
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Woodwind Quintet
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F