Dark Light

-Piccolo
-Flute I
-Flute II
-Flute III
-Oboe I
-Oboe II
-Clarinet I
-Clarinet II
-Clarinet III
-Bassoon

-Soprano Sax.
-Alto Sax.
-Tenor Sax.
-Baritone Sax.

-Horns I & III
-Horns II & IV
-Trumpet I
-Trumpet II
-Trumpet III
-Trombone I
-Trombone II
-Bass Trombone
-Tuba

-Timpani

-Percussion part 1: tambourine + tam-tam
-Percussion part 2: bass drum
-Percussion part 3: glockenspiel
-Percussion part 4: snare drum + tubular bells

-Piano

Duration: ca. 9:20


Programme Notes:

This piece was conceived at a time when the ensemble was unable to play together, due to
pandemic restrictions. As a result, the music material is divided in two distinct groups, where one
of them plays on stage and the other one can be pre-recorded and streamed in synchronicity with
the on-stage group. Pandemic or not, all the musicians would participate in this piece.

Musically speaking, the two ensembles explore different ways to compose one single music idea.
Ensemble 1 is structurally methodic, developing the music material spirally and cumulatively,
whereas Ensemble 2 is more vertical and fluid, comprised by chords and spontaneous
instrumental gestures. At times, the two ensembles come together to expose the unifying musical
idea in its fullest – the first-ever written Saltarello (currently preserved in the British Library).

“Dark Light” is the literal translation of Yin and Yang (Chinese philosophical concept), which
describes how opposite or contrary forces can be interdependent, interconnected, and form a
unity together.