Abstract:
O Frabjous Day is a composition for symphony orchestra (2-2-2-2, 4-2-2-1, timp, 3perc, pno, hp, strings, with standard doublings). The duration is approximately 13 minutes.The piece is based on the idea of setting large-scale musical elements in counterpoint with one another. A sequence of independent musical ideas are introduced, with contrasting meters, tempi, orchestral colors, and textures. At the climax, after all these different musics have been spun out and developed in various ways, they are heard simultaneously. While they retain their independent nature, and are out of synch with each other in terms of meter, tempo, and phrasing, they blend together to form a consonant harmonic progression.
