Ele(jg)y

Ele(jg)y was written on April 25, 2008 as a memorial to the great clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer Jimmy Giuffre, who died the previous day. It is based on a single, dirge-like descending melody which is broken apart into 11 additive fragments: A, AB, ABC, ABCD, ABCDE etc. When played by multiple instruments, the effect is of a unison pitch that is continuously falling apart and being returned to.

Ele(jg)y was premiered on April 26, 2008 by myself along with Vinny Golia (clarinet) and Nathan Hubbard (percussion) at the Lira Concert Series at Los Angeles Harbor College Recital Hall:

The composition was also recorded in June, 2008 by the Empty Cage Quartet with guests Aurelien Besnard (clarinet) and Patrice Soletti (guitar) in Montpellier, France. The recording entitled Take Care of Floating was released in 2010 on the Rude Awakening Présente label.

Ele(jg)y was performed in May, 2011 by Ensemble Offspring at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville, NSW,  Australia.

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