The Space Quartet
Faculty Mentor
One WU mentor: Tomoko Deguchi, Ph.D.; deguchit@winthrop.edu
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Music
Faculty Mentor
Tomoko Deguchi, Ph.D.
Abstract
The first piece “Big Bang” represents the vast emptiness of what was to be our universe, empty and full of nothing. This is followed by a fun little motive that represents new atoms being created and chaos of everything suddenly expanding. This leads into the slow section where I imagine taking a step back and observe the space dust that was created. Coming out of the slow section is the second A section to this piece, where I focus back on new things being created such as stars, planets, and galaxies. In “Space Wal(k)ts,” I wanted to redefine what a waltz meant to me, and thought about what made a waltz, a waltz. I have always believed that silence is stronger than sound or music. That is the reason of taking out the first beat in the waltz accompaniment. I also imagined a waltz in space and thought of space walks, but with a dark twist at the end. “Space Cadets – Shooting stars” is the third and final movement in this flute quartet set. Again, I wanted to write a march, but not Sousa-like march since I only use flutes. I redefined the march by beginning with a strong piccolo solo and later had the roles reversed with the piccolo playing the reply and the other three players playing the statement. In this way, I kept the piece noticeably a march.
Additional Fields About Your Abstract
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Type of Presentation
Performance of my creative work
Performance Description
The performance will be of a handpicked flute quartet of students here at Winthrop. That have been working on the music for our flute choir concert. The performance time will be used via one of the recordings we have taken of these pieces
The Space Quartet
The first piece “Big Bang” represents the vast emptiness of what was to be our universe, empty and full of nothing. This is followed by a fun little motive that represents new atoms being created and chaos of everything suddenly expanding. This leads into the slow section where I imagine taking a step back and observe the space dust that was created. Coming out of the slow section is the second A section to this piece, where I focus back on new things being created such as stars, planets, and galaxies. In “Space Wal(k)ts,” I wanted to redefine what a waltz meant to me, and thought about what made a waltz, a waltz. I have always believed that silence is stronger than sound or music. That is the reason of taking out the first beat in the waltz accompaniment. I also imagined a waltz in space and thought of space walks, but with a dark twist at the end. “Space Cadets – Shooting stars” is the third and final movement in this flute quartet set. Again, I wanted to write a march, but not Sousa-like march since I only use flutes. I redefined the march by beginning with a strong piccolo solo and later had the roles reversed with the piccolo playing the reply and the other three players playing the statement. In this way, I kept the piece noticeably a march.
