AF7D6760-968C-4116-95E1-5CDDD4193EC5

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IDAF7D6760-968C-4116-95E1-5CDDD4193EC5
TitlecodeR01294
Title NameForesight Spinning: Meditations for Contrabass and Ensemble
Marketing CopyAs suggested by the title, this piece is about looking forward, each section of material “foreshadowing” the one that follows it. The bass throughout acts as the focal point—its gestures and material spread out to engage the rest of the ensemble.
InstrumentationDouble Bass Solo: Flute, Clarinet, Perc(1), Piano, Violin, Cello
CommissionCommissioned by the Broeker Fund for New Music for bassist Douglas Balliett and the Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury, director
Dedication(not set)
Program NotesForesight Spinning: Meditations for Contrabass and Ensemble (2004) was commissioned by the Broeker Fund for New Music and was written for bassist Douglas Balliett to premiere with the Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury, director. The work is dedicated to composer Bernard Rands on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

This work is a piece about looking forward. Each section of material looks primarily forward to the one that follows it. The bass throughout acts as the focal point -- its gestures and material spread out to engage the rest of the ensemble. The subtitle "meditations" comes from the generally subdued character of the work.

The work is cast in five brief movements which play without break. The opening movement, "Prologue," casts the bass in the foreground as it brings the ensemble alive. In the second movement, "Glimpses," the bass moves back and forth between an accompanying and featured role. The third movement, "Canto," is a long-breathed song for the bass in the upper register while the ensemble explores a variety of commentaries on the material. These commentaries threaten to overwhelm the melody. The fourth movement, "Realities," is a moto perpetuo for the bass. Out of the material of the bass's moving runs comes the ensemble's bizarre and seemingly disorganized interjections. The final "Epilogue" recalls material from the earlier movements, bringing the work to a slightly enigmatic ending. --Carson P. Cooman
Title Brand2
Year Composed2004
Copyright Number(not set)
Copyright Year(not set)
Duration10
Ensemble Size7
Date Created2008-10-31 20:31:02.000000
Date Updated2025-09-30 20:31:02
Inhouse Note(not set)
Bsc Code(not set)
Text Author(not set)
Premier Performance Memo-World Premiere. Douglas Balliett, double bass. Callithumpian Consort/ Stephen Drury. 24 Apr 2004. Boston, MA.
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 TextSeptet
Title Sub Category Text(not set)
Title Sub Category93
Title Instrument Header22
Title Grade Text(not set)
Clean Urlforesight-spinning-meditations-for-contrabass-and-ensemble-r01294