THE PHOENIX
Christopher Kaufman
About this work:
Arriving at the material with which this music deals (i.e. the events of 9/11) was not a simple process. It involved the suggestion of friends, personal experiences, and the opportunity to compose an orchestral piece for a particular event. I composed THE PHOENIX August 14th through September 20th (2002). The material is presented through the universality of myth and symbol.
After the opening ‘movement’ (‘Clouds of Memory’), THE PHOENIX focuses on ‘transformation’ (‘The Phoenix Awakes’) and ‘celebration’ (‘The City Dances’). The Finale is exuberant, expressive and colorful.
In the first movement, ‘Clouds of Memory’, there is lamentation, outrage, and mystery. Gongs and related effects create an atmosphere in which expressive woodwind solos occur and build up to create a thick texture of voices. Passionate outbursts intercede. There is a theme, stated in the strings, created from the mathematical relationship between the two towers (6 feet of separation between the towers translates into two melodies separated by 6 half steps).
Eleven ‘power-strokes’ featuring gong occur at the end of the first movement and symbolize the time element involved. There are nine strokes... the Phoenix begins to awake... and two more strokes follow in echo.
‘The Phoenix Awakes’.
There are many aspects of the Phoenix myth. In this music my imagination focused on the part of the myth where the Phoenix takes the parent ‘body’ to the ‘Temple in the Sun’ to bury it there. The powerful transforming quality of the sun - the source of all life - is what is presented here, in theensemble -- while the Solo Flute creates the images of flight. I had in mind’s eye the surface of the sun with its great heat and healing strength... and the energy level appropriate to the subject (i.e. the city of New York).
In this version, the PHOENIX returns to shadow. The music echoes the beginning. The shadows have been transformed into a place of peace where the imagination is free from fear and can explore freely the positive aspects of darkness and rest.
Version: Chamber ensemble and Dance
Year composed: 2005
Duration: 00:17:30
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation: ,1 Flute soloist(s), ,1 Oboe soloist(s), ,1 Percussion (General) soloist(s), ,1 Piano soloist(s), ,1 Electric/Electronic Keyboard soloist(s), ,1 Viola soloist(s), ,1 Double bass soloist(s)