Streams (2005)
Commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Duration: 11 minutes
The title of this work refers to the stream of consciousness approach to its formal structure. Written in three short movements, the piece features a number of musical ideas that reappear in various forms throughout the work. The development of the material is loosely structured, unfolding freely in a flow of musical gestures that alternately connect, leap to other ideas or circle back on themselves. Small fragments and motives are recycled and reinterpreted, moving from an aggressive and declamatory opening movement, "with fury", to a quiet and introspective second movement, "diffused", and closing with a fast, light scherzo entitled "breathless".
Streams was composed in 2005 and co-commissioned by violists David Harding and Charles Noble. Financial assistance for this commission was provided by the Canada Council for the Arts.