River of No Return (score & parts) - OB/CL/BSN/PN

River of No Return
for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and piano
by Matthew R. Durrant - American composer

  I. Sawtooth Snowmelt
  II. Pahsimeroi
  III. Ashes
  IV. Crags
  V. Canyons

This piece has been chosen as a finalist for the 2024 American Prize in professional instrumental chamber music!

ABOUT THE MUSIC:

River of No Return is about the journey of the Salmon River through Central Idaho. Along its course it passes through some of the most spectacular, rugged, and scenic Wilderness in the world. This river has been designated a Wild and Scenic River and is the longest free-flowing river in the Lower 48. The five movements of this work are influenced by the locations the river flows through on its way to join the Snake River in Hell’s Canyon. They are all unified by a single undulating two-note motive that is presented differently in each movement. Because the river is ever changing, this motive is continuously developed, reflecting the dynamic nature of the river.

Sawtooth Snowmelt – The Salmon River’s source is high in the alpine lakes of the Sawtooth Wilderness in Central Idaho. This work is influenced by the yearly cycle of melting snow that gives birth to the river. The ice breaks up and the snow melts in the sun, sending torrents of water crashing down the mountains. The streams join together to form larger and larger tributaries until they become the fully-formed River of No Return.

Pahsimeroi – This movement is about the stark landscape of the Pahsimeroi Valley in Eastern Idaho. The Salmon River runs past the North end of this valley skirting both the Lost River and Lemhi Mountains. These mountains are the highest in Idaho and dramatically surround the valley on all sides. It is one of the most spectacularly scenic places I have been to, but it is also spectacularly empty. This movement evokes that vast emptiness and the solitude it brings.

Ashes – One of the defining characteristics of the Salmon River region is the ever-changing relationship of the land with wildfire. The river flows through some of the most heavily burned areas in the nation and it is difficult now to venture into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness without encountering the effect of fire and climate change. This movement uses only the winds to give the sense of emptiness and desolation, portraying the blackened landscape after a fire. While this movement is atonal and generally dissonant, there is a sense of hope at the end signified by the final C-Major harmony. While fires bring destruction, they also generate new life and new beginnings.

Crags – One of the most spectacular places in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is an area known as the Bighorn Crags. Rising thousands of feet above the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, these mountains are a jumbled mess of granite spires, fins, and peaks. The grandeur and asymmetry of the angular rock features is represented by wide spacing of the instruments and many fragmented, disjunct melodies tossed between the instruments. The ever-present ostinato is a reminder of the river far below.

Canyons – The defining feature of the Salmon River is the massive canyon it flows through. Essentially dividing Idaho in half, it is one of the deepest gorges in North America. Besides the beautiful country the river flows through, the Salmon is world-renowned for its whitewater rafting. Powerful rapids are created by the river, which is now at full force. The swiftness of the current is depicted by a dancelike compound meter and playful melodies. The river motive is the driving force behind the movement and as the Salmon exits its canyon and dissipates into the mighty Snake, the river motive is likewise faded out until it is the last thing the listener hears, recalling the journey of the river. It is now transposed and transformed, but still recognizable just as the River of No Return changes throughout its course.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

Matthew R. Durrant is a versatile composer with a passion for exploring diverse musical styles and genres. His compositions, which span from the very traditional to experimental electronic works, reflect his eclectic taste in music and his desire to connect with a broad audience. Inspired by the natural landscapes, geography, and history of the American West, Matthew infuses many of his compositions with a sense of place and narrative. His compositions are gaining international recognition and are regularly performed across various stages worldwide. He holds a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Utah and teaches Music Theory and Humanities at multiple institutions including the University of Utah and Utah Valley University.