The musical compositions of Richard Burdick
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Opus 69

Pentagonal Palastrina
(Hibernating Humanism)
for trombone quintet

c. 1991

Opus 69b

for low-horn quintet

Commissioned by Joel Ellias at the University of California @ Davis

This work was written for an intermediate college quintet, with restrictions on range, and the complexity of rhythm. The second section does contain a difficult rhythm for the first player. In my opinion, the rest is quite easy. The difficulty arrives though the use of difficult harmonies and a need for a high level of musicianship needed to interpret this work.

This work contains a quote from Palastrina. It can be found near the end of the first and third parts of the composition. It occurs several time, but is usually modified into a mode other than the major scale used by Palastrina. Thus the primary name. The first section I believe is in a poly - modal form of composition with the tone centers B & C#. The second section is a study inspired by Alvin Lucier. It is a study into expanding cluster from four half steps to four whole steps.

Performance of the work should emphasis smooth lines with a forwards direction in the first part, slow with attention given to the changing interference beats in the second part and in the third part, lets add an accelerando from 238 to 243 where a Molto Allegro begins to the end. The section at 275 should have the feel of a jazz interlude.

The secondary title refers to my awareness of the lack of Humanism, I perceived in the students. This work was written at the coffee shop at the University of California @ Davis. Burdick, OP. 69 pg. 1