STACK
|
Instrumentation: young band
Difficulty: grade 1 Duration: 3 minutes 
|
Perusal Score
| perusal_stack_score.pdf |
Rock Balancing
Program Note
This past summer I was introduced to the incredible art form of rock stacking, in which artists carefully balance rocks in seemingly impossible ways. To see some visually stunning photos, google image search “Michael Grab.” I have been so fascinated by the art form that I have spent many hours researching and practicing with my own rocks. Though I only consider myself an amateur, I have found this hobby to be refreshingly simple and wholesome. Not only does it provide moderate exercise when working with large rocks but rock stacking has connected me with a meditative state of patience, awareness, and inner peace. Often times when I’m at my desk writing music and am having trouble with a compositional problem, I pull out my “indoor” collection of rocks and make a stack right there on my desk. I find it meditative and relaxing.
Stack is a piece of music directly inspired by my love of rock stacking. For example, there are two major sections of the piece where the musicians are figuratively making a rock stack. First one melody is added, then another melody is layered on top of the first, then a third is added, with each melody representing a different rock. Each of these sections concludes with a held fermata, which represents the completed, balanced stack of 3 rocks. Another example is evident in the harmonies of the piece consisting of stacked fifths and often arranged so that they create sus chords, also known as suspended chords. These chords tend to feel unresolved, unstable, wanting to move yet being frozen. In my mind, this represent the poignant dichotomy of stasis versus movement inherent in a well crafted rock stack — It looks like it should fall over at any moment! And yet it stands still, perfectly suspended!
Stack was commissioned by a consortium led by Sarah Posegate and the students of Russell I Doig Middle School Sixth Grade Band. I am so grateful for their support and encouragement during the composition process, and especially grateful for their enthusiastic response to the completed work!
Here is a sampling of my work:
This past summer I was introduced to the incredible art form of rock stacking, in which artists carefully balance rocks in seemingly impossible ways. To see some visually stunning photos, google image search “Michael Grab.” I have been so fascinated by the art form that I have spent many hours researching and practicing with my own rocks. Though I only consider myself an amateur, I have found this hobby to be refreshingly simple and wholesome. Not only does it provide moderate exercise when working with large rocks but rock stacking has connected me with a meditative state of patience, awareness, and inner peace. Often times when I’m at my desk writing music and am having trouble with a compositional problem, I pull out my “indoor” collection of rocks and make a stack right there on my desk. I find it meditative and relaxing.
Stack is a piece of music directly inspired by my love of rock stacking. For example, there are two major sections of the piece where the musicians are figuratively making a rock stack. First one melody is added, then another melody is layered on top of the first, then a third is added, with each melody representing a different rock. Each of these sections concludes with a held fermata, which represents the completed, balanced stack of 3 rocks. Another example is evident in the harmonies of the piece consisting of stacked fifths and often arranged so that they create sus chords, also known as suspended chords. These chords tend to feel unresolved, unstable, wanting to move yet being frozen. In my mind, this represent the poignant dichotomy of stasis versus movement inherent in a well crafted rock stack — It looks like it should fall over at any moment! And yet it stands still, perfectly suspended!
Stack was commissioned by a consortium led by Sarah Posegate and the students of Russell I Doig Middle School Sixth Grade Band. I am so grateful for their support and encouragement during the composition process, and especially grateful for their enthusiastic response to the completed work!
Here is a sampling of my work:
|
|
Purchase
Please click in the field below to select PDF or hard copy purchase options. Then provide band director name, email address, and School/Institution name and click "Add to Cart." All hard copy options include free shipping to continental USA.
For all other payment arrangements, please email [email protected]