Jeremy Jarvis - Opus 13: SONATA-ALLEGRO in F minor

                     Recording – Woodwind Music ($10)

Composed in the Fall of 2005.

    Daydream: While I was walking towards the local grocery store, a spirit of the air suddenly descended upon me from many directions and concentrated itself around me. As a ghost, the spirit whispered this melody into my ear, warned of an impending obstacle in my greater path and advised me to confront it confidently. Sure enough, the obstacle – like a monster – faced me soon afterwards. I confronted the obstacle several times and overcame it.

    This piece incorporates the essence shared by the diversities of modern hip-hop and alternative rock with the classical sonata-allegro form’s binding architecture. The ominous opening theme was written in the spirit of October. The more relaxed secondary theme emerges stylistically from an integration of contemporary urban cultures. Such cultural intermingling through music encourages constructive communication and leads to collective gain. I hope to bring new insights to the sanctuary of the concert hall and speak to people of all generations.

    The composition of a piece is merely one-half of the necessary creative effort. The other half belongs to the performers. This piece is flexible in the details; it may be performed in ways uniquely reflective of the performers' personalities. Their natural rhythmic tendencies enliven its rigid markings. Percussion may be added creatively in order to stabilize the challenging meters; Jarvis provided light drumset grooves for the first performance. Melodies may be shaped dynamically, beyond the limits of the written specifications. Ornaments, trills and glissandos may be added as desired, wherever it is felt that they may enhance the music.    The composer values performers' abilities to breath life into music.

Performances

April 3, 2006; Arizona State University Composition Studio Recital – Christopher Charbonneau (sax.), Nathan Strasser (pno.), Jarvis (improv. drums) – LISTEN

Feb. 12, 2007; ASU Composition Studio Recital – Charbonneau (sax.), Strasser (pno.) – LISTEN

Sunday, April 29, 2007; “Jeremy Jarvis’s Thank-you Recital,” ASU School of Music – Charles Ancheta (cl.), Strasser (pno.) – LISTEN