Archipelago (score & parts) - WW5/STG5

Archipelago
for woodwind quintet and string quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, two violins, viola, cello, and double bass
by Alex Shapiro (b. 1962) - American composer

 

I live in a beautiful archipelago in which each island has a distinct character. Some are similar to each other, and others cause me to wonder what the geo- and meteorological forces could have been to make them so contrasting. This piece is not dissimilar, as it wends its way through a series of cohesive but varied segments, each subject to the forces of my own emotional geology. 

Similarly, a musical ensemble is its own archipelago; wonderfully contrasting individuals who, when experienced together, form a compelling, unified group. As with navigating the channels and straits between isles, or those of one's psyche, Archipelago offers a journey, and every listener will experience the landscape differently. 

Duration: 11:00