"Frequent Flyer" for orchestra.

Item

Title
"Frequent Flyer" for orchestra.
Identifier
AAI9969711
identifier
9969711
Creator
Miller, Cynthia F.
Contributor
Adviser: David Del Tredici
Date
2000
Language
English
Publisher
City University of New York.
Subject
Music
Abstract
Frequent Flyer is a ten-minute work in one movement for full orchestra. Overall, the piece falls into three large sections: fast-slow-fast. It begins softly with an ostinato played by the strings. The ostinato recurs throughout the piece, and its rhythm becomes a central feature, giving rise to several themes presented in the first section. At the end of the first section, the music builds to a big climax. At the loudest, most intense moment there is a sudden pause. What follows is a complete change. A slow, somewhat languid melody in the flutes begins the second section. The flutes are accompanied by the violins playing a version of the ostinato in augmentation. At the end of the second section, the music accelerates gradually until the tempo of the first section is reached. The re-entrance of the ostinato begins the third section, which presents a greatly modified recapitulation of material from the first section. Toward the end of the piece the music builds several times to fortissimo climaxes; each time it is cut off, and the ostinato, is heard briefly. Finally the orchestra exhausts itself in a huge explosion, leaving the only ostinato, which is heard together with some laconic comments by solo woodwind and brass instruments. At the very end of the piece, the ostinato itself disintegrates and disappears into nothingness.
Type
dissertation
Source
PQT Legacy Restricted.xlsx
degree
Ph.D.