Block-Arizona Views II (SP)-V/M/P/FL/VC - Product Information
Arizona Views by Caryn Block for flute, percussion and cello, written in Spring 1999, was based on the painting by the American painter Maxfield Parrish, "Arizona" that was on exhibit at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia at that time. In this painting, the artist depicter a brilliant, colorful "fantasy" of majestic rock formations, blue cloud formations and the space in between where they met.
The composition is designed in three movements, each with its own character to depict a different facet of the Arizona landscape. Each movement features a different array of percussion instruments, so as to enhance the overall sound and features either an extended solo for one of the instruments or a solo cadenza.
Number of Players: 3
Difficulty: Grade 5
Duration: 15:00
Instrumentation:
Player 1: Marimba, Vibraphone, Crotales, Sus Cym w/bow, Gong, Triangle, Wood Chimes Tom-tom, Bongos, Tenor Drum
Player 2: Flute
Player 3: Cello
CARYN BLOCK, is an accomplished flutist, conductor, music director and writer, whose music has been performed both regionally and nationally. She has been the recipient of numerous grants, commissions, fellowships and awards for her compositions, among them: New York State Council of the Arts "Meet the Composer" grant, the Alexander Gretchaninoff Prizes in Composition, and the Ada Arens Morawetz Prize in Composition. In the years 2000-2008, she was awarded ASCAP Standards Awards in Composition. Recently in 2008, she was the recipient of a Meet the Composer Met Life Award for her trio "Arizona Views II" and in the year 2000, she received a Meet the Composer Award for the premiere of her trio "Newport by the Sea". Her music has been performed throughout the United States, including such venues as Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Riverside Church, Christ and St. Stephen's Church, The American Landmarks Festival, The Women's Interart Center, The Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Harold Prince Theatre, The Woodmere Art Museum, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Rutgers University, The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, recital halls in Pittsburgh, the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C., Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and on National Public Radio in Iowa, by outstanding chamber musicians, soloists and herself as flutist.
This is a chamber work for flute, percussion, and cello. Inspired by Maxfield Parrish's painting "Arizona," the composer attempts to musically depict the beautiful grandeur of the fictitious landscape. The piece, in general, has a Native American influence through the various melodies and drumming chants and lasts 15 minutes.
Each of the three movements evokes a different character, with movement one, "Chant/Flight," having a prolonged and mysterious opening that leads to a more driving melody in the second section. Movement two, "Rhapsody," is labeled "majestically" and has the main melody played by each instrument in its own unique way. Although the cello states the disjunct melody in the opening, Block overlaps the players' thematic statements to create a whirlwind of sound. The third movement, "Canyon Echoes," is an energized close to the work with rapid sixteenth ostinatos played by the marimba and cello and an eighth-note- based melody line played by the flute.
Through the entire work, but especially in the third movement, the flute has the primary melodic material. The percussion and cello contribute to the atmosphere of "Arizona Views II" to primarily add color, harmonic support, and rhythmic interest. The percussionist is required to play marimba, vibraphone, crotales, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, triangle, wood chimes, tom-tom, bongos, and tenor drum. Various sticks, brushes, and a bass bow are requested.
—Brian Zator
The composition is designed in three movements, each with its own character to depict a different facet of the Arizona landscape. Each movement features a different array of percussion instruments, so as to enhance the overall sound and features either an extended solo for one of the instruments or a solo cadenza.
Number of Players: 3
Difficulty: Grade 5
Duration: 15:00
Instrumentation:
CARYN BLOCK, is an accomplished flutist, conductor, music director and writer, whose music has been performed both regionally and nationally. She has been the recipient of numerous grants, commissions, fellowships and awards for her compositions, among them: New York State Council of the Arts "Meet the Composer" grant, the Alexander Gretchaninoff Prizes in Composition, and the Ada Arens Morawetz Prize in Composition. In the years 2000-2008, she was awarded ASCAP Standards Awards in Composition. Recently in 2008, she was the recipient of a Meet the Composer Met Life Award for her trio "Arizona Views II" and in the year 2000, she received a Meet the Composer Award for the premiere of her trio "Newport by the Sea". Her music has been performed throughout the United States, including such venues as Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Riverside Church, Christ and St. Stephen's Church, The American Landmarks Festival, The Women's Interart Center, The Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Harold Prince Theatre, The Woodmere Art Museum, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Rutgers University, The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, recital halls in Pittsburgh, the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C., Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and on National Public Radio in Iowa, by outstanding chamber musicians, soloists and herself as flutist.
This is a chamber work for flute, percussion, and cello. Inspired by Maxfield Parrish's painting "Arizona," the composer attempts to musically depict the beautiful grandeur of the fictitious landscape. The piece, in general, has a Native American influence through the various melodies and drumming chants and lasts 15 minutes.
Each of the three movements evokes a different character, with movement one, "Chant/Flight," having a prolonged and mysterious opening that leads to a more driving melody in the second section. Movement two, "Rhapsody," is labeled "majestically" and has the main melody played by each instrument in its own unique way. Although the cello states the disjunct melody in the opening, Block overlaps the players' thematic statements to create a whirlwind of sound. The third movement, "Canyon Echoes," is an energized close to the work with rapid sixteenth ostinatos played by the marimba and cello and an eighth-note- based melody line played by the flute.
Through the entire work, but especially in the third movement, the flute has the primary melodic material. The percussion and cello contribute to the atmosphere of "Arizona Views II" to primarily add color, harmonic support, and rhythmic interest. The percussionist is required to play marimba, vibraphone, crotales, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, triangle, wood chimes, tom-tom, bongos, and tenor drum. Various sticks, brushes, and a bass bow are requested.
—Brian Zator
