YEAR

2020

 

INSTRUMENTATION

Cello

 

MOVEMENTS

1. Bombs Bursting in G

2. Twilight's Last

3. Land OʻRags

 

DURATION

5 minutes

 

FIRST PERFORMANCE

May 14, 2020

Saul Richmond-Rakerd, cello

(Digital World Premiere)

 

PROGRAM NOTE

Spangled consists of three movements for solo cello with music derived from the Star-Spangled Banner. The work itself is original of the anthem, however each short movement is connected to the original theme is some way.

 

The first movement, Bombs Bursting in G is furiously fast music based on a fragment from the melody that accompanies the words “banner yet” at the end of the first verse.

 

The second movement, Twilight’s Last, is a slower freer recitative-like music that sets the rhythm of the anthem, to different music.

 

The final movement, Land OʻRags is a rag based on the opening arpeggiating triad that sets the opening “O say, can you see.”

 

THIS WORK WAS COMPOSED AS PART OF #GLFGigThruCOVID19

In the early part of 2020, the United States experienced a fatal sickness for many and a frightening cessation of normal daily activities for all due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) reaching our shores after already proving devastating for citizens across the world.

 

At the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, composers who came through various programs knew that they were voiceless without our beloved performer colleagues. Watching our performing spaces go dark because of COVID-19 was a frightening reminder of how fragile our music eco-system is.  And we are frightened that our colleagues face real financial ruin, many who have already been living month to month, week to week. 

 

To that end, GLFCAM has contributed a starting pledge of $15,000 to a GoFundMe campaign, and 65 GLFCAM composers are donating their time to create solo works of 1-3 minutes each.  These new pieces of music will be given to performers who have lost employment because of COVID-19 and are in financial straits.  Each performer will be invited to meet with their paired composer through Skype to collaborate remotely in developing the new work for its eventual premiere online for a physically-distanced audience.

 

A calendar of performances will begin in April and continue through the early summer of 2020.