'Quartet in D-minor' - Movement I. Moderato con il peso (duration - about 6'00")
All three movements of Quartet for Bass Trombone and Percussion are musically quite dark.
The opening movement is rather barbaric; an unforgiving musical depiction of a seemingly unstoppable monolith. The primeval timpani part (in all three movements) was written with rhythm and melodic contour being more important than the clarity of each individual note. This is contrasted by the mysteriously churning middle section (beginning at m75) with the constantly rising and falling harmonies in the marimba and vibraphone. The bass trombone has optional 8va and/or 8vb in all three movements; these octave displacements are at the performer’s discretion.
Movement II. Andante con moto (duration - about 6'00") The second movement fades in from nothing. This perpetually churning ‘inner turmoil’ motif that is used throughout this movement is an elaboration of some ideas from the first movement. The vibraphone is played at times with the wood of the mallets for a more delicate timbre. Bursts of emotion akin to l’appel du vide pepper the middle sections. After reprising the opening, this lament fades into the void.
Movement III. Con moto (duration - about 5'30") The finale is a tour de force. Many of the melodies are light in nature, but still exist under a darkened shroud. Constructed out of various polyrhythms, the motifs and accompaniment material builds and builds to the dramatic ending.
