Transmission

Instrumentation: violin trio (violin, viola, cello); mandolin trio (mandolin, mandola, guitar); or mandolin and guitar duet

Duration: about 7 minutes

Program Notes

To make music is to transmit something. Music, like all art, connects across the gaps between us, with the mission of transporting and translating across those gaps. But what is transmitted here? I am not sure. It may depict a transmission from the front lines of social conflict. Certainly there is much contention in the music, with its juxtaposition of rhythms and fragmentation of melodies. It might be about the transmission of souls, perhaps. Certainly, the music has a restless, unsettled quality to it. Or it may be a musical transmission about musical transmission itself. Yes, maybe that's it most of all.

If so, it may seem contradictory to name the piece "Transmission" when the meaning is so multiple and indefinite. But communication is never singular and definite, if it is communication. For we are ever unsure, at least to some degree, of that which we truly try to communicate, to transmit. We discover our meaning as we offer it to others. And thus others shape our meaning as we shape it ourselves. Our meaning, ourselves: All meaning is thus an our, more than we generally acknowledge. And so, I offer this piece to others in part to learn its meaning—or, rather, our meanings.

Performance Notes

The main challenge in this piece are the many shifts in time. Also, in the violin trio version, I ask the cello to act much like the guitar that is scored for the mandolin trio version, which places some unusual demands on the player. Otherwise, it is not a difficult piece.

Note that the mandolin and guitar duet version of the piece has a few extra measures at the end.

Actual Notes

For violin trio (violin, viola, and cello)

Performance: 192 bit MP3 of computer playback (9 megs)

Score: PDF of first half.

For parts and the full score, please contact the composer.

For mandolin trio (mandolin, mandola, and guitar)

Performance: 192 bit MP3 of computer playback (9 megs)

Score: PDF of first half.

For parts and the full score, please contact the composer.

For mandolin and guitar duet

Performance: 192 bit MP3 of computer playback (9 megs)

Score: PDF of first half.

For parts and the full score, please contact the composer.

All content copyright © 2002-2006 Michael Mayerfeld Bell. All rights reserved.

Page last updated May 7, 2006