ABOUT THE WORK:
SCORED FOR: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in Bb, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 percussionists, piano, harp, strings. TOTAL TIME: [7:00]
Todd Goodman’s Chronicle was commissioned by Sally Shollenberger and the Pennsylvania Music Educators District One Orchestra. It is the fourth work in a series of orchestral tone-poems that explore the beauty of everyday life. From the wonders and struggles of the creative process to the majesty of our natural world, these four tone poems—The Precipice, Soar!, The Awakening, and now Chronicle, create an experience that provides the orchestra and audiences alike the opportunity to experience everyday life in orchestral music!
Chronicle documents in sound the ups and downs of an extraordinary day. The piece opens with explosions of sound that awaken us from a deep sleep. As we slowly become accustom to our surroundings, the day begins. We hear a constant tick, like that of a clock, pass through the orchestra, reminding us of the passing of time. As we start to work on our daily tasks, overtones of negative energy weave in and out of our thoughts. There are moments of triumph, but overall a feeling of defeat prevails. In the middle of the day there is a moment of quiet, simple reflection that gives us a jolt of positive energy. Our morning ideas come back, but this time filled with positive energy. The work then closes with a triumphant completion of the day.
First Performance
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District One Orchestra
Brian Worsdale, conductor
February 1, 2020 | Bridgeville, PA
Conductor score is 11x 17.
WORLD PREMIERE February 1, 2020
