Two-Letter Words (2005)

for Bass Clarinet/Clarinet and Marimba/Vibraphone

Duration: 13 min

Commission: newEar contemporary chamber ensemble

Premiere: newEar contemporary chamber ensemble - March 24, 2006 Kansas City, MO

A duo in five movements:

1. if (bass clarinet & marimba)

2. is (bass clarinet & vibraphone)

3. or (bass clarinet & marimba)

4. we (clarinet in b-flat & vibraphone)

5. go (bass clarinet & marimba)

Program Notes: The concept of Two-Letter Words came from the realization of how powerful a small, two-letter word can be. My goal was to encapsulate the purest meaning of each word, stripped of any contextual framework within a sentence. The list of contenders was quite impressive and included wonderful words such as do, up, in, and no. The National Scrabble Association, actually, lists over 100 possible two-letter words in the English language. Ultimately the decision came down to which words had the clearest indication of motion and form. If implies a consequence; is, a state of being; or, a choice; we, a coming together and go, an action. Needless to say, I had fun working with these words and capturing their essence musically. Two-Letter Words was written for newEar clarinetist Tom Aber and percussionist Mark Lowry premiered on March 24, 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri.