Name: Duet For Oboe And Cello No. 3 (072315) Revised (091315) by G.W. Ferrington
Duration: 3 min 8 s
Description: A revision of an earlier piece for cello and oboe.

The third installment of Project 365: a new musical idea for every day of the year.

This is a textural idea I've played around with in a couple pieces. I'm attempting to have the timbral differences in the winds create the impression of a filter sweep, with the smoother instruments dominating the beginning and end of each measure and the more biting instruments dominating the interior. 

Put another way, I'm trying to write orchestral music that is similar in effect to certain gestures in electronic music. You'll probably see this idea return as I work out the kinks in the effect.

Project 365 - Day 3: Glasses

Solo piano piece based on the traditional English folksong, The Elvin Knight. Performed by Hung-Yun Chu, April 2009. Very sparse and meditative in the beginning moving toward a bravura section and then contemplative close.

Eleven Nights

A ceilidh in Mabou, Cape Breton Island. "Will You Give Me A Kiss?"

"An toir thu dhomh pòg?”

Composed 2015 - Based upon the balance that exists which gives meaning to life. Death. 

"Life"

This hauntingly beautiful Theremin solo was improvised while thinking about the beautiful summer evenings I have gotten to experience as of late. 

Theremin Solo

Sleepless Night No. 1 - For Piano

A revision of an earlier piece for cello and oboe.

Duet For Oboe And Cello No. 3 (072315) Revised (091315)

Recorded on Saturday, September 5th for NPR’s Morning Edition invitation to share a minute of daybreak sounds from where you live, part of its Close Listening series http://www.npr.org/2015/09/03/436981928/what-does-daybreak-sound-like-where-you-live. My recording was not selected broadcast on the September 11th show. However, since it was made to be publicly shared and in spite of its shortcomings, I thought the recording provided something worth listening to. From the standpoint of energy transfer and acoustic communication, I hear the dynamic relationship of voices in the soundscape playing upon and within me. Its strength and weakness shift. 

As a regarding of the dawn chorus, only one gull's voice can be heard for a single, brief moment. There is no "chorus." For my verbal description, I spoke close and softly to the microphone. The sound of the waves on the beach obscure my voice, but the gull’s interruption is clear. Perhaps this shows simply that the source of sounds that define my sense of place are physically tied to my own proximity. Changes in this will effect their personal meaning and value.

Morning Edition’s call reminds me of a site-based micro radio event, “SoundTent at Camp Sherwin” for The Radius Episode 63 http://theradius.us/episodes. It was part of the real time streaming International Dawn Chorus Day event organized by soundCamp | REVEIL. 

Daybreak at camp Sherwin Sept. 5, 2015

Composed in 2008, "The Long Valley" is a single-movement work for large orchestra. It won the 2009 Jim Highsmith award, which resulted in a world premiere performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. This recording comes from the world premiere, performed by the SF Conservatory Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Mogrelia.

Original program note:

“I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer – and what trees and seasons smelled like – how people looked and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich.”

In 1952, John Steinbeck penned the above passage within the first page of the monumental novel, East of Eden. Though the plotline runs parallel to the Genesis story, Steinbeck’s ultimate intention for writing the novel was to paint a detailed image of California’s Salinas Valley, Steinbeck’s homeland, for his two young sons.

Just a couple of years ago, I stumbled across an attractive edition of the book at a bookstore, bought it, and read it for the very first time. Because I was born and raised in Salinas, I was immediately drawn in by the first chapter, where Steinbeck colorfully describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the Salinas Valley.

I experienced all of the things of which he spoke, the goods and the bads, the beautiful and the ugly; and my heart immediately welled up with nostalgia of memories sweet and sorrowful, conjured by images sketched by Steinbeck’s unrestrained and poetic honesty.

Consequently, the novel inspired a very personal, nostalgic orchestral work, entitled The Long Valley. This title, drawn from another literary work by Steinbeck, was chosen to keep focus on my perception of the Salinas Valley as inspired by East of Eden, while avoiding the titular literary weight of the work.

The Long Valley attempts to place at the center of Steinbeck’s raw reflection my personal memories of the Salinas Valley. I dedicate The Long Valley to my mother and father, in gratitude.

The Long Valley (2008)

I am, after a career in higher education, returning to an early interest in composing. I now have the time to enjoy writing short pieces with each being a challenge and opportunity to learn more about music composition.

I use Finale Note Pad for notation. The  midi  recordings approximate what an actual performance might sound like.

Duet For Oboe And Cello No. 3 (072315) Revised (091315)

G.W. Ferrington

Recent comments

ETHR3

Related tracks