I was inspired to compose a piece based off of themes from J.S. Bach's Organ Trio No. 1 in Eb Major, BWV 525. When I first began this work back in July, I decided to write it for and according to the preferences and skills of the performers that I had available and willing. In doing so, I hoped that I would actually get it played live (you'll notice that most of the music on my profile is still generated from Finale). Well, unfortunately, due to some ensuing drama and severing of ties and friendships, as well as a few other outlying circumstances, that fell through, but I wanted to finish what I started. Here's the score in its entirety, with audio generated by NotePerformer 3.3.2. If anybody is interested in trying the piece out for themselves, or would like for me to arrange it for an alternative ensemble, feel free to shoot me an email at trevormcintosh110@gmail.com. I should also have free .pdf's of the score and parts uploaded to my website here pretty soon, at trevortmcintosh.com.

I. Allegro moderato - a mostly joyous movement in Eb Major, organized in a kind of rondo form

II. Adagio - a slow and intensely somber A section in C Minor is followed by a more content (if somewhat austere and proud) B section in G Phrygian. The movement is then capped off with a fugal section that combines both themes in C Minor

III. Allegro - a celebratory, almost fanfare like section in Eb major is followed by a tense, almost wailing B section in F Dorian. The entire octet is then capped off with a fugue that recalls all of the themes from each movement.

Happy listening! :)

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: I. Allegro Moderato

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: II. Adagio

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: III. Allegro

Program notes from the premiere:

When I joined Dr. Teodori’s newly created New Music Ensemble as violist during my senior year at Southwestern University, he asked whether I had any desire to compose a piece for the group to perform together. Since I was writing this composition purely for specific performers and a particular occasion, instead of trying to tell some kind of story, as I typically do with most of my music, I instead endeavored to evoke a distinct mood: in this case, eeriness! In doing so, I made much of the harmonic texture droning and dissonant, as all of the background voices blend together into a sort of singular, hazy web of sound.

Existential Nightmare, Op. B4

Hello everyone! My name is Trevor McIntosh, and I'm a Dallas/Fort Worth area based up and coming music composer looking to share my passion with the world! At my alma mater, Southwestern University, I received two years of training under Dr. Jason Hoodergyde and around five months of instruction under Dr. Michael Mikulka. I write various forms of modern classical music and alternative rock music. As for now, I'll be using this channel to post any studio or live recordings of my music that I'm able to obtain!

Existential Nightmare, Op. B4

Trevor McIntosh

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