Abandon
American Composers Orchestra
About this work:
In the early 1990s, while American automobile manufacturers were fleeing Detroit, the deserted city saw an electronic music renaissance based in its many underground dance clubs. Artists like Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Kenny Larkin, and Richie Hawtin found themselves working in a new musical language since dubbed "Detroit Techno."
This work is a sort of "analog homage" to these artists and their language. In addition to these influences, and no less central to the work, is the very concept of "abandon."
Are the many meanings of abandon somehow related? Are they the same? Does one need to be abandoned in order to abandon oneself? Abandoned metropolis. Abandoned Artists. Abandoned Music.
Abandon is composed of two pieces that are mixed together as a DJ might do. The first work is a hypnotizing reflection on an oscillating theme, which slowly emerges from the sound of a needle sliding through the grooves of a record. The second tune is a somewhat-quicker remix of an earlier electronic composition barcelonaEvenings. Originally a buzzing and tweeting nostalgic anthem, the work underwent a dramatic transformation and emerged here as a blooming chorale decorated with streams of fast notes from the vibraphone and piano.
Just as a DJs set, though made up of hundreds of songs, is regarded as one work (the "live set"), so too are these two pieces regarded as one. The transition between them is just as important as the material itself, and there seems to be a single direction to both tunes—towards a sense of personal abandon.
American Composers Orchestra commission.
Version: Justin Messina
Year composed: 2006
Duration: 00:07:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Chamber Orchestra
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F, 1 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 3 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Strings (General), 1 Prerecorded Sound (Tape/CD/Other)
Instrumentation notes: Flute doubles alto flute, clarinet doubles bass clarinet.