Forward Motion

Forward Motion is quite blatantly a work about the motion of time, tremendously rhythmic and constantly moving forward. It celebrates the coming of the millennium and has moments of reflection, attention to the present and speculation about the future.

Genre: Full Orchestra | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 5:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo/Flute 1/2
Oboe 1/2
A Clarinet 1/2
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon 1/2

F Horn 1/2
F Horn 3/4
C Trumpet 1–3
Trombone 1–2
Bass Trombone
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1 (bells, large bass drum)
Percussion 2 (crotales, chimes, brake drums, crash cymbal)
Percussion 3 (vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, large tam-tam, crash cymbal)
Percussion 4 (tom-toms, temple blocks, snare drum, suspended cymbal, tam-tam)

Harp
Piano

Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Program Notes
Time possesses continual Forward Motion. As human beings, we have the unique ability to experience the present, reflect on the past, and contemplate the future. One can liken the experience of time to the jogger who can look over his/her shoulder to see behind, look to the side to see what is passing him/her at the moment, and look ahead to things not quite visible on the horizon. It is from this particular perspective of time that I have derived my inspiration for this orchestra overture. Since music is a "time art," the spirt of the work seems more apropos. Forward Motion is quite blatantly a work about the motion of time, tremendously rhythmic and constantly moving forward. It celebrates the coming of the millenium and has moments of reflection, attention to the present and speculation about the future. Based on a motivic cell of five notes on three pitches, the work opens with mysterious anticipation of the future. This segues into a rousing brass fanfare, signifying a positive outlook for the new millenium. The ensuing rigorous and ferocious rhythmic section is very much reflective of the turmoil of the past twentieth century and the "busy-ness" and technological saturation of the present. The middle section with a lyrical cello line accompanied by harp and keyboard percussion is much calmer and a reassuring reminder that nothing is to be feared in the new millenium, that we are doing well, and that we have accomplished much in the past. Following this are some of the beginning ideas of reflection and future perspective, the mood changing from turmoil to mysteriousness. All of this reaches a boiling point and breaks into a final and glorious rendition of the cello theme from the middle section, this time stated by the brass. A driving and rhythmic coda brings the work to a rousing close.
—DRG