Kristoffer To's Transform was completed in April 2013. It is conceived as one continuous movement, Transform basically divides into four parts one part may seem to last longer than the in which the first three and the last are roughly equal in length.
Part 1 (up to letter C on score) begins with a short piano solo. Here, a twelve-tone series is embedded in an ostinato high note A. The music of part 1 never leaves A as this is the tonal centre of the work. There is a marked contrast in sound and instrumentation between part 1 and part 2. Here, the horns and trombones serve as the background. But the real subject of the music is just a scale played by the flutes. I wanted to rediscover for myself what a scale could be and how these sounds could interpreted afresh. Part 3 (up to letter G) begins with a percussion solo. This part flows quite freely, and it explores the different timbre by each individual instruments. The beginning of part 4 is a kind of an allusion to the opening of the work. 2 sets of tubular bells accompany the strings at the work's end. The four parts are quite different in character and harmony. However, all material is based on the twelve-tone series.
This work is scored for a symphony orchestra of 74 players: 9 wind, 9 brass, harp, piano, 2 percussionists and 52 strings (48 strings - violins, violas, celli onstage, and 4 violins off-stage). Some unusual instruments are employed, including a Stylophone, wooden rods and a Cimbalom.
Transform is dedicated to Paul Comeau.
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Part 1 (up to letter C on score) begins with a short piano solo. Here, a twelve-tone series is embedded in an ostinato high note A. The music of part 1 never leaves A as this is the tonal centre of the work. There is a marked contrast in sound and instrumentation between part 1 and part 2. Here, the horns and trombones serve as the background. But the real subject of the music is just a scale played by the flutes. I wanted to rediscover for myself what a scale could be and how these sounds could interpreted afresh. Part 3 (up to letter G) begins with a percussion solo. This part flows quite freely, and it explores the different timbre by each individual instruments. The beginning of part 4 is a kind of an allusion to the opening of the work. 2 sets of tubular bells accompany the strings at the work's end. The four parts are quite different in character and harmony. However, all material is based on the twelve-tone series.
This work is scored for a symphony orchestra of 74 players: 9 wind, 9 brass, harp, piano, 2 percussionists and 52 strings (48 strings - violins, violas, celli onstage, and 4 violins off-stage). Some unusual instruments are employed, including a Stylophone, wooden rods and a Cimbalom.
Transform is dedicated to Paul Comeau.
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