William Susman
Six Minutes Thirty Seconds
Duration: 7'
Instrumentation details:
flute
oboe
clarinet in Bb
bassoon
horn in F
Six Minutes Thirty Seconds
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William Susman
Horn in F (Six Minutes Thirty Seconds)
Available digitally
Type: Stimme
William Susman
Klarinette in B (Six Minutes Thirty Seconds)
Available digitally
Type: Stimme
William Susman
Six Minutes Thirty Seconds
Available digitally
Orchestration: for Wind Quintet
Type: Dirigierpartitur
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Work introduction
Commissioned by The Citywinds, a San Francisco-based wind quintet active in the 90s, Six Minutes Thirty Seconds was first performed in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center in 1995. The City Winds subsequently took the work on tour in the mid 90s.
The title Six Minutes Thirty Seconds refers to an approximate duration. If this piece is played at the tempi indicated in the score, it will last for roughly 6:30.
Time is an important if not the most important element in music. We shape sound through the passing of time.
It used to be a convention to indicate the tempo through words such as moderato, allegro, or presto. As metronomes became popular two hundred years ago, one could be more exact about speed.
Ultimately, tempo markings such as a 1/4-note = 152 were equated with terms such as Allegro. However, even with the exactitude of a metronome marking there may be fluctuations in time due to interpretation.
This wind quintet explores the Afro-Cuban rhythm called the montuño. The montuño is a repeated syncopated line or obligato often assigned to the piano in order to outline the harmonic structure. Also used are medieval rhythmic and contrapuntal devices called hocket and isorhythm.