Return to Chamber Music
Return to Solo Music
Return to Works

Amalgam for solo piano (2021)

For solo piano

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

 
Program Note

“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


Royal Academy of Music
 

Min Kwon, piano.
 

To obtain examination or performance material for this
Augusta Read Thomas work, please contact Nimbus Music Publishing.