Brizil - Broken Bones (Extended Version)
Out On All Platforms Soon!
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Broken Bones

Written: 2005-06/2023-25
Duration: ca. 33'
for orchestra (3 (dbl Pic.), 3 (dbl Eng. Hn.), 3 (dbl Bass Cl.), 3 (dbl C-bsn.); 4,3,3,1; timp +3; hp; kybd; strings)
Written for JoAnn Falletta and Mostly Modern Orchestra in honor of Mostly Modern Festival’s fifth season
For more information: https://robertpaterson.com/journey-of-a-dragonfly
Video: https://youtu.be/hZOVmC9R82M

PROGRAM NOTE
As a child, my parents vacationed at a summer cottage in Maine by a small lake. Often by myself, I would sit on a giant boulder and watch the lake and the wildlife for hours.

One day, a beautiful bright-winged dragonfly flew across the lake and hovered before me. I was startled and intrigued: its long, slender blue body glistened in the sunlight. Finally, it began to fly around the perimeter of the lake. It stopped every few minutes and hovered in place, almost as if waiting for me to follow it. I followed the dragonfly until sunset, imagining a world in which only the dragonfly existed, on its own terms, within its own world.

Years later, I hiked around the Niagara Gorge near Niagara Falls and explored Devil’s Hole Park. There is an opening on the side of a cliff called Devil’s Hole Cave. Interestingly, early Native Americans called it the Cave of the Evil Spirit and foretold subsequent disaster to anyone who dared enter the cave. The combination of the lake, the dragonfly, and Devil’s Hole Cave all came together and helped crystalize the idea for this work.

Journey of a Dragonfly begins as the sun rises; a foreboding darkness looms in the background, contrasting the Dragonfly’s graceful entrance into a world filled with the excitement of being alive. A gust of wind carries dandelion seeds skyward alongside butterflies and rainbow-colored wildflowers. Butterflies land on flowers before the Dragonfly ventures through a dark forest and emerges, only to be chased by five blackbirds. Weaving back and forth to try and escape, the Dragonfly flies into a narrow crevice as two of the blackbirds collide with trees. While still being chased, the three remaining birds retreat as the Dragonfly discovers a dark hole leading to a tunnel. The dragonfly speeds down the ghoulish tunnel and emerges at the end of the tunnel at the side of a cliff, hovering in place. It looks around in horror and sees a gigantic cavern and then Devil Town. After flying through Devil Town and witnessing tortured souls, a bomb factory, Attorney Alley, and the Devil’s Saloon, off in the distance, the Dragonfly sees Satan’s House on a hill and decides to explore. The Dragonfly enters the house and sees the Devil Child, the Devil Mother, and the Devil himself. Suddenly, the Devil Child catches the Dragonfly in a glass jar as the parents prepare dinner in the kitchen. The Dragonfly eventually manages to escape, only to be chased by the Devil Child and then by a group of hellish bats. After a chaotic chase, the Dragonfly finds the tunnel and speeds back toward the world above. Finally free, the Dragonfly finds a flat rock to rest. The tale concludes as the Dragonfly falls asleep, the sun sets by the lake, and the evening fades to black.

Journey of a Dragonfly was written for JoAnn Falletta and Mostly Modern Orchestra in honor of Mostly Modern Festival’s fifth season.

– RP

Movements:
1. The Lake: Sunrise
2. Dragonfly’s Entrance
3. Chase: Blackbirds
4. Descent Into The Underworld
5. Devil Town
6. Satan’s House
7. Trapped
8. Kitchen
9. Escape
10. Chase: Bats
11. Ascent To The World Above
12. The Lake: Sunset

Journey of a Dragonfly for Orchestra

Imagine an elephant trail, but the elephants brought a Moog and a drum machine.

Elephant Trail

Let It Be Me

Still close to you

You don’t remember, that December, you and me where there forever, looking back, wonder why, you were that one girl I liked, now I’m sad cause you said bye, I wish you be there one more time, wonder how, you were right, you would stay there in mind,

How could you know what I’ve been through, all this time I still say I miss you, whats the issue, fall again, oh I wish you’d bring the end, 


You don’t remember, that December, you and me where there forever, looking back, wonder why, you were that one girl I liked, You don’t remember, that December, you and me where there forever, looking back, wonder why, you were that one girl I liked, now I’m sad cause you said bye, I wish you be there one more time, wonder how, you were right, you would stay there in mind,


When the night comes, and the tides up, you’re the one that I hope might come, pick the right one, hope its me, when the time comes you will see, 


You don’t remember, that December, you and me where there forever, looking back, wonder why, you were that one girl I liked, now I’m sad cause you said bye, I just collapse, look at your eyes, wonder how, you were right, you would stay there in mind, 
You don’t remember, that December, you and me where there forever, looking back, wonder why, you were that one girl I liked,

Stay Here

That December

And all of the signs were in my face 
That I should be runnin' away 
And I thought that I had a clue 
But you made me feel like a fool

Breaking All My Rules

I think this is the one where I used a classic soul progression. The packaging at the start that imitates a DJ scratch rhythm came when I accidentally touched a mi goreng pack of noodles around the mic and it fit so I used that. The stop start is influenced by ‘I Try’ by Macy Grey. Then a trademark 4 layers of cello for the chorus. It’s 4 layers cos that’s how I get the cellos to have enough power that I want. First time doing a vocal ’staccato’ sort of chorus like ‘Work Song’ by Hozier which is my fave Hozier song cos’ maybe I’ve overplayed ‘Take Me to Church.’ At the end a brief bit of funk. I remember trying something more complex but the classic James Brown sort of funky riff worked better so I used that.  The second verse is influenced by the production of ‘Hold On’ by Bishop Briggs with the claps. Then, a neopolitan chord for the bridge.  The last chorus has the 2nd chord flattened like ‘Imperfect For you’.  Also a harmonic minor scale being played by the synth lead which reminded me a bit of Just Like You Imagined by NIN. So we’re not lyrically referencing 300 anymore but musically referencing it. The horns are a new addition which I did just based on … what I thought might sound good. The verses/bridge are new but the chorus is from last year. Oh yeah I did reference FNM's Ricochet for the bridge. King for a Day is Spiderman's fave FNM record. Should just hired as a consultant when their biographies are due. Correcting people like, "nah it was a sunny day when that event happened." Yes, the weather is important. Details are important.

Speaking of mi goreng which I discovered in my 1 year of boarding school in Australia. “I do hope my overpriced education doesn’t offend you.” I remember looking at it and thinking it was strange that it had no broth. Then, tasting it and going “ this is amazing.” It’s wonderful how an Indonesian noodle brand has gained popularity in Australia. Other than that, I do miss the meat pies and Shapes (they are a good snack). It was also at boarding school that I discovered Meri lewa which was played once a week by the PNG boys.

Give Me Release

That was then - times ago - nothing changes,  just the ebb and flow.

Roll With the Money

Can't Put My Finger On It

Dont Cry For Me

Timeless art, endless pain, welcome to the journey, I’m here with you… it’s okay… you’re not alone <3

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Broken Bones

B R I Z I L