related works
Symphony: God Spoke and the Mountain Answered : for large orchestra / Benjamin de Murashkin
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
3fl 3ob(eh) 3cl(cl-b) 3fg(cfg) 4h 3tpt 2trb-t trb-b tb timp 3perc str
Brainchatter : for clarinet, vibraphone and string orchestra / Chiel Meijering
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Scoring:
cl vib 4vl 2vla 2vc db
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Scoring:
fl(fl-b) cl 2perc hp cb
Incidental music : for two harps and six violoncellos, 1987 / Chiel Meijering
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Scoring:
2hp 6vc
composition
Episodes in Chiaroscuro : for flute, string trio and harp / Benjamin de Murashkin
Other authors:
Murashkin, Benjamin de
(Composer)
Description:
Episodes in Chiaroscuro, my quintet for flute, string trio and harp, takes its name and inspiration from the use of light, texture and contrast in the paintings of Rembrandt van Rijn.
Working for harp I couldn’t help but think of the story of Saul and David and I try to capture some of the emotion in Rembrandt’s second depiction of the scene, from 1645. In this painting, King Saul weeps openly at the beauty of David’s playing while at the same time being overcome with jealousy at the young soldier’s newfound fame. It is some of these internal struggles and contrasting states of mind that come forth in the drama and moods of my piece.
Within the ensemble I explore the use of melodies and textures to try and create a sort of high-contrast chiaroscuro musical image. The piece opens with a quiet swift-moving texture out of which a melody slowly comes to light. The second movement is at once meditative and intense, only partly finding resolution as it starts to flow more freely. The final movement is built upon a mode and recitation tones inspired by the ancient music of the Middle-East, with aggressive outbursts creating a forward momentum that gives way to a shimmering sound of closure.
Benjamin de Murashkin