Metropolitan
Jonathan Newman
About this work:
Metropolitan began with a stylistic approach—that of chic pop-inspired harmonies and pulses, with the sheen of a "downtown" aesthetic. But the piece quickly edged away from this style-concept, and I found myself more and more interested in simply working with the musical elements involved: stuttering mixed-meters, layered grooves inspired by American minimalism, three-against-four cross-rhythms, stretched-out harmonic rhythm, and a single, compact melodic cell. "Style" would come out on its own, without my impositions. The result is a raucous celebration of stylis-tic variety, where all my musical religions converge. To that end, the original title, Hip+Now, which implied the first, less serious and more ironic aim, was dropped in favor of Metropolitan's more appropriate in-timation of grand and sweeping eclecticism. Metropolitan premiered November 13, 2005, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Allen Tinkham, conductor.
Year composed: 2003
Duration: 08:30:20
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 3 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Strings (General), 1 Harp