First performance: TBA
Commissioned by The Royal Academy of Music for ARC I: INVOCATION and by Min Kwon for ARC II: FUSION
Duration: ARC I: INVOCATION: circa 2 minutes and 30 seconds ; ARC II: FUSION: circa 3 minutes
Arcs can be played independently as stand-alone works, or both arcs can be played as a pair in any order.
RoyalAcademyofMusic - Thomas - Amalgam
Informal reference recording of ARC 2: FUSION
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
The spirit of AMALGAM is that no two chords, motives, lines, phrases, rhythms are exactly the same. Everything is transforming – everything is an amalgam.
AMALGAM unfolds a chain link of transformations, variations and outgrowths. Musical connections are orbital; sounds cross-fertilize and establish relationships which, in turn, create new intersections and fulcrum points. The sonic predecessors of this work include Ravel, Debussy, Scriabin, Herbie Hancock, Art Tatum, Cecil Taylor, and Bill Evans, whose musical perfumes I have reveled in for decades.
ARC I: INVOCATION is dedicated with admiration and gratitude to The Royal Academy of Music ARC II: FUSION is dedicated with admiration and gratitude to Min Kwon
Harvey Steiman, The Aspen Times, August 8, 2023
Virtuosity shines most brilliantly in a thoughtful weekend at the music festival
“So far she [Pianist Min Kwon] has commissioned 70 pieces [that explore various composers’ short takes on “America the Beautiful.”] Thomas’ piece turned parts of the tune into a wacky cakewalk. [Alan] Fletcher surrounded flickers of the tune with hazy harmonies and piano flourishes, as if viewing it through a fog. Both were among my favorites among the wide, wide range of musical styles and emotions.”
To obtain examination or performance material for this
Augusta Read Thomas work, please contact Nimbus Music Publishing.
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