Entrata - (2021)   

for organ

for Carson Cooman

 

A musing about what one composition professor from years back called a "pre-compositional method" became "Restarting Pitch Space," in Cooman's ongoing work.  One may read more from this organist and composer here. 

 

From a PDF illustration which is linked comes this musical 'system,' the first four notes of the Lydian scale -- whole tones -- is "restarted" in the next with a similar four. Had the first four been continued as a whole tone relation rather than the half, a whole tone scale is of course generated instead. Below is Cooman's spinning out of the four note Lydian, each iteration separated by a half step. Interestingly, this also shows the circle of fifths relation, as every next iteration follows through it when gauged in the span of five notes. Other modes could be applied in similar manner, and related musical materials generated.

 

 

Using the gesture as compositional 'fodder,' the theme then is given a simple rhythmic shape, spanning the resultant augmented octave, stated with another voice as counterpoint, and then the romp through varying tonalities ensues according to the schema above. Thereafter answering gestures are added, and revisits to the theme are played out including retrograde gestures in three voice formats. The registration for this organ work is imagined in the tonal shades of full organ, solo reeds and mixtures, loud, showy voices and some contrasting dynamic range.

 

 

 

 

5 pages, circa 4' 00" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this organ score.

 

Entrata