Yao Chen Sfumato (2007) For woodwind quintet: Flute in C, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, French Horn in F and Bassoon Movement I: Vivace (1’ 20) Movement II: Adagio (2’ 15) Movement III: Capriccio (1’ 35) The score is not in C: French Horn sounds a perfect fifth lower than written; Clarinet sounds a major second lower than written. Program Note: In Italian sfumato means “vanished” with connotations of “smoky” “shadows”, and is also an important Western oil painting technique -- to overlay translucent layers of color to create perceptions of depth, volume and form. A wonderful example of the use of sfumato is the “smile” of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Its smiling effect is due to the use of sfumato around her mouth, making it a mystery as to whether the shadows are a result of a smile or if the smile is a result of the shadows. As a composer, I instantly think this technique can be assimilated into music writing: to overlay different instrumental tone colors, dynamic schemes, and different textures to create an aural perception of sfumato.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:39:57 +0000
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