|
|
Stop for Equity
SM-000536050
| Composer | Gary Nash |
|---|
| Publisher | Gary Nash |
|---|
| Genre |
Classical / Chamber music
|
| Instrumentation |
Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Oboe, Horn |
| Scored for | Quintet |
|---|
| Type of score | Full score, Parts |
|---|
| Key |
F major |
| Duration |
4'0" |
| Difficulty |
Difficult |
| Year of composition |
2021 |
| Description |
|---|
Stop for Equity (2021) wind quintet is based on and inspired by Gary Powell Nash’s daughter Giovanna Diệu Huyền Nash's response to the George Floyd murder. The phrase “stop for equity” can be perceived as a possible rallying cry in response to racial justice, equality and inclusion. For Dr. Gary Powell Nash’s composition Stop for Equity, the three words are derived from the systematic process that he used to compose the new work. It’s based on the numbers 846, representing 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which is the first publicized time frame that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Stop represents the number 8 as a stop sign has 8 sides. For, the preposition is a homophone for 4, the number. Equity represents the number 6 as it has six letters.
The music features successive measures of 8/8, 4/8 and 3/4 time signatures, with 3/4 actually representing 6/8, as well as the number 6, which are constantly repeated and serving as the framework. The first motive, which goes through the entire 8/8, 4/8 and 3/4 time signature sequence is repeated 8 times, the next motive, also going through that same time signature sequence, 4 times and next one 6 times. After which, each instrument has a solo passage going through the 8/8, 4/8 and 3/4 sequence and then the following and final section proceeds with the same design as the opening section, in regards to 8 times, 4 times and 6 times but with slightly different motives.
The motives are all based on West African folk music. In the 8 and 6 sections, the initial motive is repeated twice (played 3 times successively) and the next 3 times in a sequence of descending major seconds for 8s and descending 3rds for the 6s, with each event building to the next segment. The closing section is similar, except using sequential progressions 3rds for 8s instead of major 2nds. |
|
|