Mosaic (2010)

solo horn and full orchestra

26 min.

Mosaic was inspired by the idea of creating a dreamscape, with the solo horn as the central character: the one experiencing the dream. I was interested in exploring the idea of dreaming as a means of processing ideas and information, but at the same time, being aware that dreaming is not a process over which we have the same degree of control as we do over our conscious thoughts. Just as real-life information and experiences are filtered and transformed through the dreaming process, several motivic ideas recur and are transformed throughout the various movements. The piece is structured in five movements (attacca), beginning with the lower strings emulating the slow breathing of one falling asleep. The second movement is bright, with melodic reference to a pelog gamelan scale. The third movement begins with a duet between solo horn and solo cello, expanding outwards from the first three notes of Brahms’ famous Lullaby, and evolving into something much more intense at the climax of the piece. The fourth movement is a cadenza for the solo horn, leading into the fifth movement, which contains reference to an out-of-body experience.

• Premiered by Oliver de Clercq (horn) with West Coast Symphony Orchestra (Bujar Llapaj, conductor), at Vancouver Technical Theatre, Vancouver, 11 June, 2010. Second performance with WCSO at the Roundhouse, Vancouver, 13 June, 2010.
• Performed by Oliver de Clercq (horn) with Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra (Jin Zhang, conductor), at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver, 1 December 2012.
• Performed by Oliver de Clercq (horn) with Orkestra Simfonike e RTSH (Albanian Radio-Television Orchestra), Bujar Llapaj, conductor, at the Academy of Arts, Tirana, Albania, 21 March, 2013.

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Orchestral score and parts are available for rental through the Canadian Music Centre.

Arrangement for horn and piano is available through the International Horn Society.