Composer

:

Ted Hearne

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2012

Average_duration

:

11:20

'Ripple' is a contemporary classical composition by American composer Ted Hearne. It was composed in 2015 and premiered on October 16, 2015, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, titled "The Ripple," is characterized by a repetitive and pulsating rhythm that gradually builds in intensity. The music is propelled forward by a driving percussion section, which is joined by a chorus of voices singing a text that explores the idea of cause and effect. The movement ends with a sudden and dramatic shift in dynamics, as the music comes to a sudden halt. The second movement, titled "The Source," is a slower and more contemplative section of the piece. It features a solo cello, which plays a mournful melody over a bed of sustained strings and electronic sounds. The music gradually builds in intensity, as the cello is joined by other instruments and the texture becomes more complex. The movement ends with a return to the opening cello melody, which fades away into silence. The final movement, titled "The Wave," is a fast and frenetic section of the piece. It features a driving rhythm section, which is joined by a chorus of voices singing a text that explores the idea of transformation and change. The music is characterized by sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo, as well as unexpected harmonic twists and turns. The movement ends with a sudden and dramatic cutoff, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved tension. Overall, 'Ripple' is a complex and multi-layered composition that explores a range of musical and philosophical ideas. It combines elements of classical music, electronic music, and experimental sound design to create a unique and compelling sonic landscape. The piece is characterized by its use of repetition, pulsating rhythms, and sudden shifts in dynamics and texture, as well as its exploration of themes related to cause and effect, transformation, and change.

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