Floating Falling

Floating Falling delves into the dynamic interplay of melody and rhythm, capturing the tension between motion and stillness while evoking the imagery of floating and falling. The title is a reference to the Greek myth of Icarus, symbolizing his fateful act of youthful defiance—soaring too close to the sun before plummeting into the Aegean Sea. Through its shifting musical landscapes, Floating Falling captures the thrilling, yet reckless ascent of Icarus, focusing solely on his exhilarating rise while leaving his inevitable fall implied.

The piece is built around the pitch set A-B-C#-D#-F, which serves as the foundation for its melodic and harmonic development. This set undergoes a symmetrical modulation, revolving around the central pitch C# at intervals of approximately 45 seconds, or fifteen measures. As the piece progresses, the set shifts in a pattern, for example, from A-B-C#-D#-F to G-B-C#-D#-G, creating a sense of cyclical transformation.

Throughout the work, there is a strong emphasis on periodic rhythms and repeating patterns that are exchanged between the cello and timpani. These exchanges evolve into new phrases or are abruptly transformed into fresh rhythmic and melodic gestures, adding to the piece's dynamic and fluid character.

First Performance: New York, Merkin Concert Hall, 1987

André Emelianoff, cello and Jonathan Haas, timpani