Program note
This piece was commissioned by Durward ensemble of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and its writing marks the end of my eighth year living in the Midwest. In light of these facts, I wanted to write something in celebration of the natural world of the American heartland. I was inspired by the raw power and terrifying beauty of tornadoes. “Twister” delves into the tornado as a shadowy force to be reckoned with, a display of the awesome might and supremacy of nature. The piece opens with a variety of sound effect noises that evoke gathering winds, hail, and thunder. At other moments, boisterous, asymmetrical melodies represent the strength of the tornado while flurries of activity evoke frenzied winds. These build to cacophonous clusters of chords that represent the raging storm and the sound of emergency sirens. The uproar cuts out abruptly in the middle of the piece, as if the listener is protected for a moment in the eye of the storm, but not for long…
Instrumentation
flute
clarinet
bass clarinet
alto saxophone
trumpet
tenor trombone
bass trombone
1 percussionist
piano
violin
viola
cello
clarinet
bass clarinet
alto saxophone
trumpet
tenor trombone
bass trombone
1 percussionist
piano
violin
viola
cello