He Died in the Fog
Featured at the 5th season of the
Mostly Modern Festival
for Brass Quintet
June 17th at 7:30p EST
The Arthur Zankel Music Center
Program Notes
He Died in the Fog is a title I've been sitting on since sophomore year of high school, awaiting the day I compose something that effectively and properly fits and represents the title as a whole. Fast forward to the year 2024, at the end of my Junior year of undergrad the title I was struggling to find a use for six years ago, has placed itself comfortably on the title page of this multi-movement brass quintet that I have written for the chamber ensemble, the Atlantic Brass Quintet. Heavily influenced by my research on the 20th century composers Margaret Bonds and Florence Price, as well as becoming enamored by the catchy rhythms and vocal melody lines of Cab Calloway's music. He Died in the Fog leans more to the side of jazz and blues. As aforementioned He Died in the Fog is a multi-movement piece split up into three sections. Movement I, "The Wanderer," movement II, "The Second Line," and the last movement titled "(What Comes) After Life (?)."
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(Not being Performed at MMF) Movement I -- The Wanderer: In the first movement of He Died in the Fog the quintet acts as the unsettling presence of the fog rolling in. Quietly making its appearance known and spreading at a seemingly slow pace. "The Wanderer" opens the piece with a sense of mystery and inklings of dread. The paths that were once clear become blurred as the fog grows thick blanketing the land in an opaque and milky-white.
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Movement II -- The Second Line: This movement vastly contrasts from Movement I. With overwhelming interest in composing a Juba (lively dance-music characterized by rhythmic body percussion developed by African Americans enslaved in the Southern states during the 19th century); I came up with the lively second movement of He Died in the Fog titled, "The Second Line." The reason for the second movement's title was inspiration taken from New Orleans culture. Second lining has been called "the quintessential New Orleans art form," and during a funeral second line a jazz band accompanies the procession of guests to the burial service, celebrating the life of the deceased. Within the second movement, there are hints of ominous and mysterious tones representing the decease's struggle with the idea of being dead, coming to the realization that the jazz funeral second line they are witnessing is for them.
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Movement III -- (What Comes) After Life (?): The second and third movement are a pair, stitched together by the trombone, whose last note from the second movement lingers for a little bit longer returning to a slower tempo similar to the first movement. Though unlike the first movement, the last movement of He Died in the Fog is more somber rather than ominous. It is meant to be reflective but also have the audience ponder the unanswered question. Is there an afterlife?
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