Composer

:

Joseph Schwantner

Genre

:

Band

Style

:

Band Music

Average_duration

:

13:23

"Recoil" is a contemporary band music composition by Joseph Schwantner, an American composer born in 1943. The piece was composed in 1986 and premiered on March 5, 1987, by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, conducted by Donald Hunsberger. "Recoil" is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 10 minutes. The piece is characterized by its intense and driving rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and use of extended techniques. Schwantner employs a wide range of percussion instruments, including marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, and various drums, to create a complex and layered texture. The brass and woodwind sections are also featured prominently, with angular melodies and intricate counterpoint. The piece begins with a driving rhythm in the percussion section, which is soon joined by the brass and woodwinds. The music builds in intensity, with the various sections of the ensemble trading off rhythmic and melodic motifs. The middle section of the piece features a slower, more lyrical melody in the woodwinds, which is then taken up by the brass. The percussion section provides a pulsing, rhythmic accompaniment, and the music gradually builds to a frenzied climax. The piece ends with a sudden, explosive chord in the brass and percussion. Overall, "Recoil" is a dynamic and exciting work that showcases Schwantner's skill as a composer and his ability to create complex and engaging music for the wind ensemble. The piece has become a staple of the contemporary band music repertoire and is frequently performed by ensembles around the world.

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