Well Traveled Road, A
Daniel Burwasser
About this work:
I have always been intrigued with the transformational potentiality of themes. A Well-Traveled Road explores the diverse possibilities of the development of a single motive. I have incorporated certain principles of sonata form, although this music is more episodic in nature than three-part. It is foremost monothematic (the theme is first announced in the horns and trumpets). The idea then undergoes several permutatations in the form of episodes, including a fleeting waltz, a form of which I am quite fond. The title of the piece itself is a metaphorical allusion to this process.
The harmonic language in the work is predominantly tonal. By contemporary music standards, about one-half consonant and one-half dissonant. I do not prescribe to any type of pitch system or any other such rationale in this work (or seldom in any of my recent work). I prefer using a more intuitive approach to pitch organization, reserving dissonance for spice and for enhancing the dramatic element of the music.
A Well-Traveled Road was first sketched in the summer of 1989. It was revised and orchestrated in 1992 for this recording by the Slovak Radio and Television Orchestra under the direction of Robert Stankovsky.
Daniel Burwasser
New York City,1995
REVIEWS:
“Mr. Burwasser takes a simple three note motive through a series of contractions, expansions, inversions and rhythmic variations, and gets a lot of mileage out of it”. . .
--The Music Connoisseur
“(The piece’s) lively, rhythmic nature suggests the neo-classicism of earlier generations of American composers. . .The work’s colorful orchestration and largely tonal manner make it extremely accessible. .
--.Fanfare.
“Sassy and boisterous, full of brassy fanfares...”
--American Record Guide
“...well crafted... colorful... virtuoso writing for winds and percussion”
--Sonneck Society for American Music Bulletin, Volume XXIII, no.2 (Summer 1997)
“It is an excellent piece! I was particularly struck by the assurance of the orchestration. Bravo..”
--David Del Tredici, composer
Year composed: 1993
Duration: 00:11:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Standard Orchestra
Instrumentation: 3 Flute, 3 Oboe, 3 Clarinet, 3 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 4 Percussion (General), 1 Strings (General), 1 Harp
Instrumentation notes: orch: 3*3*3*3 4331 timp, perc(4-5) hrp str