Composer

:

James Tenney

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Compose Date

:

1965

Average_duration

:

7:17

Maximusic is a composition by James Tenney, an American composer, theorist, and teacher. The piece was composed in 1961 and premiered in 1962 at the University of Illinois. It is a work for chamber ensemble, consisting of six movements. The first movement, titled "For Percussion," features a variety of percussion instruments, including maracas, wood blocks, and cymbals. The performers are instructed to play the instruments in a very precise and controlled manner, creating a rhythmic and textural tapestry. The second movement, "For Strings," is a slow and meditative piece that features long, sustained tones from the string instruments. The performers are instructed to play with a very soft and delicate touch, creating a sense of stillness and introspection. The third movement, "For Winds," features a variety of wind instruments, including flutes, clarinets, and horns. The performers are instructed to play with a very pure and focused tone, creating a sense of clarity and transparency. The fourth movement, "For Brass," is a loud and aggressive piece that features the brass instruments, including trumpets, trombones, and tubas. The performers are instructed to play with a very forceful and intense sound, creating a sense of power and energy. The fifth movement, "For Voices," features a choir singing a series of sustained tones. The performers are instructed to sing with a very pure and focused tone, creating a sense of harmony and unity. The final movement, "For All," brings together all of the instruments and performers from the previous movements. The performers are instructed to play with a very precise and controlled sound, creating a sense of unity and coherence. Overall, Maximusic is a work that explores the possibilities of sound and texture in a very precise and controlled manner. The piece is characterized by its use of sustained tones, precise rhythms, and controlled dynamics, creating a sense of stillness and introspection.

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