Prelude and Java was composed in the spring semester of 2008 for the annual SJSU composers reading session and later performed by members of the SJSU percussion ensemble in the fall of 2008.
score: 12 pages, 81/2x11, parts: (5) fold out 17x11 and/or fold out 251/2x11, duration 6'15"
Catalogue No. 03007
The "Prelude" is scored for mostly non pitched percussion and is very fugue like with a strong and persistent subject which undergoes various mutations thru the piece. The piece is in four four, but only for the convenience of the performers as it was composed without barlines or a standard rhythmic meter. The interest of the piece lies in the treatment of short recurring rhythmic gestures, heavy counterpoint, orchestration, and the fugue game of keeping an ear out for the subject. In my opinion, this is my first truly non-tonal piece.
The stately and refined "Java" movement is a steep contrast to the "Prelude" but retains much of the same reliance on counterpoint and the importance of gesture. "Java" is roughly based upon the aesthetics of central Javanese court Gamelan music which I was studying at the time as an elective at SJSU. This piece utilizes pentatonic scales, fairly large tempo and density chances, and accompanimental gestures generated from musical "formulas" applied to the "balungan" or melody (of sorts).
