This is the second piece that was written for my composition course with Dr. Deirdre Piper in 2002. The assignment was to write an atonal piece in the style of the Second Viennese School of composers (Schoenberg, Berg and Webern) using the principles of composition with note sets and tone rows.
This piece is based on the note set labelled [0 3 5 6] (C Eb F F#). The narrative for the piece is based on a poem by Ian L. Wolf entitled "Mystic Night".
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A long dark road, lays before me the only light comes from the full moon that hangs in the dark blue sky like a beacon to all the lost souls. I walk, my heels click on the pavement the sound echoes through the night an owl sitting on a rock, hoots it's voice rings through the night. I pick my head up as I feel a chill wind start to blow it comes at me from everywhere, so I can't escape it's icy grip I run and seek shelter under a tree, The wind carries something with it, a smell that I can't explain., something sweet. I lean on the tree, it creaks and a few branches fall off, I brush them off my arms and look up, the tree is old and almost dead, how it's staying up is a mystery my attention is drawn away when I hear a sound from behind me I turn around to see a tumble weed bounding down the road it passes me, but as it does, I swear I hear it whisper of danger. I watch as the tumble weed is taken by the night I slide down the tree and sit on the ground I look around me, and see only darkness I lay my head down and try to fall asleep. I soon awaken, when a loud clap of thunder rips through the night's silence and crashes to the ground I jump to my feet as the bolt finds it's home only feet from me, I look around for a place to hide. In the moment of light, I see off in the distance a building, I run to it, my heart beating the lightning, as if it was chasing me, drawing nearer and nearer to me I reach the building figure, to find a stone castle I bang on the door, in hopes to awaken anyone who may be inside, the door slowly opens I run in out of the lighting's path, and slam the door behind me the room is dark and empty, no was there to open the door. Out side I can hear the lighting, playing with the ground, I walk into the dark room, the only sound are the heels of my shoes as they click on the floor and the creaking of the wood, as it struggles to hold my weight. "Hello" I call out, only to be answered by my own echo, and I can hear the fear in my own voice as it is bounced back to me, from the barren dark walls I take a deep breath and walk forward towards what I think is a stair case, unsure of where it will lead me. I reach what I can now, truly see to be stairs, I reach out and place my hand on the banister, it's cold and musty skin sends shivers through my body as I start to climb the creaking steps, one by one. The top of the climb, I am met by more darkness and a welcoming spider's web, which I push away I walk, my steps creaking, along the hall till I find a door I knock on it, and once again, only the echo answers. I turn the knob and slow push the door open a bed chamber lays before me, I enter is slowly unlike the rest of the house, this room is dust-free no mold, no webs, as if it was just cleaned. I enter it and find myself strangely tired, I walk to the large bed and sit upon it, I try not to sleep, but can't seem to help myself I lay back and close my eyes. I'm soon woken up, but a sound in the distance. A lone wolf, sit's a top of a cliff edge he howls his lonely song, to the listening moon I jump to my feet as the howl fills the night air it's longful cry, filling my ears, bringing tears to my eyes as I can hear the pain and loss in his voice. I walk up to the window and gaze out into the still night, the lightning has stopped and I still find myself tired I walk back to the bed and once again lay upon it I can hear a voice in my head, call out to me, welcoming me to join it, in it's wondrous new home, I close my eyes never to open them again as the wolf cries it's howl to the night, telling the world, that the house of souls has yet brought another one, peacefully to their new home. |
| Title: | Mystic Night |
| Duration: | 4:50 |
| Orchestration: | Cl, Tpt, Pno, Vc |
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