A Soulful Nexus by Derrick Skye
Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Soprano/Alto Saxophone, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet
30-31’
1. Complementarity (c. 5’45”)
2. The Fifth Place (c. 6’40”)
3. Within (c. 7’40”)
4. A Soulful Nexus (c. 6’15”)
X. Mantras (c. 5’20”)
“A Soulful Nexus is a five movement reed quintet tracing the pathways of a musical language shaped by deep study and genuine love of several of the world’s melodic traditions. At the center of that language is ornamentation: the way a melody breathes around a note rather than simply landing on it. For me, that impulse, which I first heard in the ornamentation of solo sung Gospel music and recognized again in Persian classical music, Indian classical music, and Bulgarian vocal traditions, is the connective tissue of this entire work.
From Persian classical music, the suite draws on Dastgāh-e Mâhur and Dastgāh-e Râstpanjgâh as its primary modal worlds, with Morakab-Navazi, the practice of weaving between modal areas, guiding the music through Gushé Shekaste and Darâmad Dastgāh-e Mâhur. Central to the harmonic language is the E koron, a pitch that to the Western-trained ear may initially sound like a flat microtone, but in Persian classical music is understood as its own note, unique, complete, and precise (not “between” two other notes). That distinction is not merely technical. It reflects something the suite asks of its listeners throughout: that what sounds like an imperfection from one perspective can reveal itself, over time, as an aspect of a different kind of perfection.
The four numbered movements and one roving movement contained in A Soulful Nexus each explore a convergence of musical languages through distinct rhythmic, polyphonic, groove-based, or meditative approaches, while sharing the concept that musical traditions, no matter how geographically distant, are driven by a common impulse, to make a note sing.” ~ Composer Derrick Skye
A Soulful Nexus by Derrick Skye
Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Soprano/Alto Saxophone, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet
30-31’
1. Complementarity (c. 5’45”)
2. The Fifth Place (c. 6’40”)
3. Within (c. 7’40”)
4. A Soulful Nexus (c. 6’15”)
X. Mantras (c. 5’20”)
“A Soulful Nexus is a five movement reed quintet tracing the pathways of a musical language shaped by deep study and genuine love of several of the world’s melodic traditions. At the center of that language is ornamentation: the way a melody breathes around a note rather than simply landing on it. For me, that impulse, which I first heard in the ornamentation of solo sung Gospel music and recognized again in Persian classical music, Indian classical music, and Bulgarian vocal traditions, is the connective tissue of this entire work.
From Persian classical music, the suite draws on Dastgāh-e Mâhur and Dastgāh-e Râstpanjgâh as its primary modal worlds, with Morakab-Navazi, the practice of weaving between modal areas, guiding the music through Gushé Shekaste and Darâmad Dastgāh-e Mâhur. Central to the harmonic language is the E koron, a pitch that to the Western-trained ear may initially sound like a flat microtone, but in Persian classical music is understood as its own note, unique, complete, and precise (not “between” two other notes). That distinction is not merely technical. It reflects something the suite asks of its listeners throughout: that what sounds like an imperfection from one perspective can reveal itself, over time, as an aspect of a different kind of perfection.
The four numbered movements and one roving movement contained in A Soulful Nexus each explore a convergence of musical languages through distinct rhythmic, polyphonic, groove-based, or meditative approaches, while sharing the concept that musical traditions, no matter how geographically distant, are driven by a common impulse, to make a note sing.” ~ Composer Derrick Skye
Tuning Exercise Practice Track
Please note that the audio track for the practice exercise on tuning of the koron and sori included with each score and part can be downloaded here.
Licensing Information
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