Lineamenta
Christopher Adler
About this work:
Essays on Architecture 2: Lineamenta. Commissioned and premiered by the Seattle Creative Orchestra. Funded in part by a Margaret Fairbank Jory Copy Assistance Grant from the American Music Center.
I was inspired by Alberti's theorization to write a piece of music built from basic components metaphorically related to those lines and angles, the lineaments, which guide an architectural design. The piece begins thus: the drone as horizontal, the chord as vertical. within and guided by these ever-present frames is built a composition engaging and exposing the lineaments of my musical language: drones, modalities, harmonies, colors, the music of the Thai classical tradition, jazz, bells.
Introducing Thai classical instruments and musical inspiration into an orchestral context posed an unusual problem. The structure of Thai classical music is analogous to chamber music in that instrumental parts are conceived as unique timbral and melodic contributions to the overall texture, allowing for individual variation and improvisation. furthermore, solo Thai instruments are in danger of being sonically overwhelmed by an orchestra.
I have created a solo group, or concertino group, which includes the Thai instruments as well as soloists from the orchestra. the piece is not a concerto as there is no dramatic opposition between the solo group and the orchestra, or between the Thai instruments and orchestral instruments. Instead the solo group emerges fluidly from the orchestra, its constitution and identity rarely definitive, playing in a manner more allied to chamber music or the Thai classical tradition than to orchestral music.
Year composed: 2000
Duration: 00:24:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Chamber Orchestra with Soloist(s)
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, ,1 Oboe soloist(s), 1 Bass Clarinet, 1 Alto Saxophone, 2 Trumpet, 2 Percussion (General), ,1 Marimba soloist(s), 1 Piano, 1 Electric/Electronic Keyboard, 10 Violin, 4 Viola,1 Viola soloist(s), 3 Cello, 1 Double bass,1 Double bass soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: 6 soloists on Thai instruments: ranaat ek (xylophone), jakay (zither), khim (hammer dulcimer), thone-rammana (drums), ching (handbell), mong (gong)