Illusions

ILLUSIONS - for French horn quartet

i) Multiple Speed

ii) Turbulence

iii) Danse

iv) Stutter

v) Verigo

vi) Hidden Melody

“Illusions” is a cycle of six short variations whereby each piece explores a particular ‘sound illusion’. In the first movement the tempo is fixed at 72 bpm yet the melody seems to move at different speeds. The illusion of varying speeds is created through rhythmic notation. The second movement portrays a turbulent pedal with notes sliding across close intervals. The third movement is a rhythmic dance structured on Stravinsky’s first movement of Three Pieces for String Quartet. In the fourth movement each instrument is assigned up to three different notes repeated at varying rhythmic values to create a random pointillistic texture. The fifth movement creates the illusion of everlasting falling and raising motion that remind the listener of M.C.Escher’s staircase illusions. The sixth and final movement distributes the theme across different octaves so that melody seems to surface out of a textured background.

To purchase this piece please visit the composer's website