The Number Series - Miniatures for Varying Ensembles
The Number Series denotes a significant change of direction in my compositional output. The Number Series consists of compositional miniatures, ranging in length from three to seven minutes long. Each composition in this series focuses on a singular gesture or emotion, hoping to generate one complete musical thought in each miniature. Compositional form is redefined in the miniatures, as the material undergoes very slight formal development (if any) and the piece reaches its conclusion when an appropriate amount of time and material have elapsed. Instrumentation varies in each miniature, as the content dictates what ensemble should be used. A slow miniature dealing with sustained chords may require strings and/or portative organ, while another miniature may necessitate percussion to permit sudden rhythmic interjections. The possibilities for programming these works outnumber traditional concert pieces, as they can be used in any combination (miniatures are identified by instrumentation and number only; pieces with similar instrumentation will not be numerically ordered, allowing more freedom for performers in determining a succession of miniatures, interspersed between larger works or at the beginning or end of a concert. I hope that this series of miniatures can bring about a change in the traditional concert experience, enabling a "modular" group of pieces that have the flexibility to be presented a various way to create a differing effect each and every performance. The creation of The Number Series would not have been possible without the generous contributions from both le Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts.