Duolog III
Ernesto P. Pellegrini
About this work:
The work, commissioned by and written for Keith Sweger, opens with a bassoon solo which contains many of the germinal musical ideas to be found throughout the work. In addition the very opening should be noticed for its pitch content - - which consists of consecutive melodic pitch classes outlining fifths and producing a set class (0 1 6 7). It is this particular cell which germinates into the most important musical idea of the work. Even though lesser musical ideas are introduced, there is a rhythmical one, a syncopated grouping of five, which is first heard in the bassoon solo in the introductory passage, and which seems to take over when the accompanying piano enters for the first time. This idea is heard on various occasions and is transformed into different manifestations of itself in both the piano and the bassoon parts.
The work, conceived as a fantasy, appears to be expressed in a large binary form with an introduction, but it can also be viewed as a continuous two-movement work in which the second is the playful contrasting finale.
As for the title, since the composer has so far composed three comparable works, it simply suggests a work which offers both instruments (as a duo) equal participation in the make-up of the work. “Duolog,” then, is a synonym for “dialogue.”
The work received its premiere at the 28th Double-Reed International Society Conference which took place at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI in 1999.
Year composed: 1998
Duration: 00:16:30
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Unknown
Instrumentation: 1 Bassoon, 1 Piano