Frescoes and Ash (2009) for clarinet, piano, percussion, and strings

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Repertoire

Year of Composition

2009

Duration

20'

Instrumentation

Clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, and contrabass

Movements

I. Street Musicians
II. Marine Mosaic
III. Scene from a Comedy
IV The Sybil’s Speaks
V. Chiron Teaches Achilles to Play the Lyre
VI. Alexander Mosaic
VII. Ash: Awareness of Mortality

(A powerpoint with images for each movement is available.)

Other Versions

Version for string orchestra

Program Note

Based on frescoes and mosaics in Pompeii, the seven movements begin with "Street Musicians," a raucous band dancing and playing the tarantella on tambourine, finger cymbals and flute. "Marine Mosaic" depicts fish and other sea creatures gracefully swimming. "Scene from a Comedy" portrays three actors wearing masks. "The Sybil Speaks" shows three masked women, one of whom chants mysteriously. "Chiron Teaches Achilles to Play the Lyre" shows the old centaur Chiron demonstrating how to play the instrument to the young Achilles, who gratefully receives his instructions. "Alexander Mosaic" is a battle scene, with men and horses clashing violently. "Ash: Awareness of Mortality," inspired by Pompeii’s tragic doom, expresses the Romans philosophical acceptance of death.

— Victoria Bond