A Page from the Book of Nature for percussion quintet.

"The book of nature is written in the language of mathematics." - Galileo Galilei

Although Galileo was not referencing a literal book when he said this during his life in the 1500-1600's, this quote can easily be connected to a manuscript written a few hundred years before his time: the Liber Abaci ("The Book of Calculation"), written by Italian mathematician Fibonacci. This book's (arguably) most important  feature is a description of what has come to be known worldwide as the Fibonacci sequence - a sequence of numbers in which, after beginning with 0 and 1, each successive number is the sum of the previous two: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc. Knowledge of this sequence, famously featured in The Da Vinci Code, can be found much earlier in the work of several Indian mathematicians including Pingala and Hemachandra (for which reason the sequence is also rightfully known as the Hemachandra sequence). There is a reason that great mathematicians independently came upon this sequence: it appears naturally in the world in numerous ways, including the way in which flowers grow petals and the way that snails' shells spiral outward.

A Page from the Book of Nature is a reflection on this crossroads at which the deep relationship between nature and mathematics can be observed. The work explores this in many ways - rhythms and phrases are derived almost exclusively from Fibonacci numbers (though parts are also based on the first numbers of the Lucas numbers, a similar sequence named after Édouard Lucas, a French mathematician known for his study of the Fibonacci sequence: 2, 1, 3, 4). The seven-pitch-class set used in the work is derived from the Fibbonaci number 2,971,215,073, which, when translated to pitches, yields the set C, C#, D, Eb, F, G, and A. The work also utilizes a driving bassline in the marimba, respectfully borrowed from the song Lateralus by rock band Tool, which is also based heavily on the Fibonacci sequence.

Stylistically, the work explores several moods inspired by the wide and mercurial range of expression that can be found in the natural world, ranging from quiet serenity to wild intensity. Eventually, the end of the figurative page is reached, and the work ends with the slamming shut of the book.

A Page from the Book of Nature (MIDI)

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© 2023 TUX People's Music, LLC

LEARN MORE: https://joshtrentadue.com/pumpkin-madness
PURCHASE: https://www.tuxpeoplesmusic.com/store/p2252/Pumpkin_Madness_%28Symphony_No._2_for_Wind_Ensemble%29.html

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AUDIO DEMO

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www.joshtrentadue.com

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Program note and PDF score: http://stevenbryant.com/axismundi.php

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© 2023 TUX People's Music, LLC
LEARN MORE: https://joshtrentadue.com/the-great-river-rapid-chase
PURCHASE: https://www.tuxpeoplesmusic.com/store/p2471/The_Great_River_Rapid_Chase.html

CONSORTIUM PREMIERE: May 8, 2019, Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony (John Szczerowski, conductor) | Grand Ledge, Michigan

Commissioned by a consortium of ensembles led by Caleb Hammer as part of a consortium for three new works for concert band, featuring music by Caleb Hammer, Josh Trentadue, and Harrison J. Collins

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Certainly the largest work for band I've composed to date, taking influence from David Maslanka's passing in 2017, in addition to other events that were taking place in my own personal life during the years for 2017-2019.

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Harrison J. Collins
J Stands for Joe Music
Your friendly neighborhood composer!

Dedicated to writing music that challenges and connects to performers and listeners alike.

Find more info on my works and purchase them at harrisonjcollins.squarespace.com - or contact me at harrisonjcollinscomposer@gmail.com!

A Page from the Book of Nature (MIDI)

Harrison J. Collins

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