Altered

Perspectives

Grade 3 - 5:01

Order This on Gumroad
Instrumentation

  • Flute

  • Oboe

  • Bassoon

  • Clarinet 1

  • Clarinet 2

  • Bass Clarinet

  • Alto Saxophone 1

  • Alto Saxophone 2

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone

  • Trumpet 1

  • Trumpet 2

  • F Horn

  • Trombone

  • Euphonium (BC and TC)

  • Tuba

  • Timpani

  • Mallets

  • Snare Drum

  • Bass Drum

  • Crash Cymbals

  • Gong

  • Triangle

  • Woodblock




Rehearsal Notes

  • The song contains three main sections, the dance, the ballad, and the chase. The dance begins in measure 1, and is signified by the 7/8 time signature. The ballad begins in measure 55 and is the slow and lyrical contrasting section of the song set to act as a slow, 3/4 time waltz. The chase begins in measure 98 and is a collection of musical ideas that unfolds one layer at a time and is set in a 4/4 time signature

  • Measure 51 is the first transition, pivoting from the Aksak dance to the lyrical ballad

  • Measure 88 is a sequence that flows through the circles of fifths backwards until landing in the new tonality at the chase section. This section is meant to be the musical equivalent of “walking around” the sculpture until the new image slowly comes into focus.


Program Notes

Altered Perspectives was inspired by a wire sculpture. This sculpture was in the shape of 2 giraffes when viewed from one angle, but looked like an elephant after walking to a different viewpoint. Altered perspectives attempts to the do the same with a single musical idea. Each section of the song uses the same starting 7 notes, but morphs them through different rhythms, tonalities, and tempos to sound completely unique, creating an “altered perspective” from the one musical idea. The main melody of the song is built upon a 7 beat Aksak rhythmic pattern found in Turkish dance music. The melody melts into a smooth and even ballad (contrasting the odd rhythmic pattern of the dance section). The third section is the chase, where musical ideas build upon a pulsating, hard charging 4/4 version of the melody that layers additional musical ideas on top before returning to the original dance melody to wrap up the song.