6631AF01-25D9-49B2-8210-6775B3A7D3BD

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ID6631AF01-25D9-49B2-8210-6775B3A7D3BD
TitlecodeR00978
Title NameSoft Cells
Marketing Copy(not set)
InstrumentationFlute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Perc(1), Piano, Harp, 2Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Commission(not set)
Dedication(not set)
Program NotesFor 15 instru­ments (1997), Soft Cells was con­ceived as a kinder, gen­tler coun­ter­part to its older sib­ling Hard Cells, a work com­posed 8 years ear­lier. Hard Cells (on the CD New Music from IU, Vol.1) is a steely, tough piece based on a unyield­ing, relent­less 16th-note pulse and sharp-edged bits of mate­r­ial which move in space but gen­er­ally resist any re-shaping. By con­trast, the motives of Soft Cells , while retain­ing their def­i­n­i­tion and char­ac­ter, are allowed to rhyth­mi­cally expand and con­tract; tempo changes are fre­quent, and irreg­u­lar beat sub­di­vi­sions become an obses­sion. Dynamic shapes ebb and flow as well. A harp has been added to the 14-piece instru­men­ta­tion of Hard Cells, and the gen­eral sound world of Soft Cells is more post-Impressionistic than rock’n’roll.

In the midst of the pre­dom­i­nantly rich har­monies and tex­tures of Soft Cells, two leaner, more lin­early dri­ven sec­tions help define its over­all struc­ture: one, marked “appas­sion­ato,” occurs in the mid­dle of the piece, pro­vid­ing a tem­po­rary rest to the surg­ing activ­ity of the first half; the sec­ond is a non-sequitur sud­den sun­set which abruptly halts a cul­mi­nat­ing flurry and brings the work to its close.
Title Brand2
Year Composed1997
Copyright Number(not set)
Copyright Year(not set)
Duration13
Ensemble Size12
Date Created2008-10-31 20:24:05.000000
Date Updated2025-09-30 20:24:05
Inhouse Note(not set)
Bsc Code(not set)
Text Author(not set)
Premier Performance Memo-USC Contemporary Music Ensemble/ Donald Crockett. 01 Dec 98.
-World Premiere. Indiana University/ David Dzubay. 05 Dec 97.
Recording Credits(not set)
Review(not set)
Awards(not set)
Title Category2
Title Movements(not set)
Title Grade(not set)
Set Series ID(not set)
Title Instrument Category TextLarge Chamber Ensemble
Title Sub Category Text(not set)
Title Sub Category-1
Title Instrument Header25
Title Grade Text(not set)
Clean Urlsoft-cells-r00978