Trilogy is a set of three pieces reflecting what I believe are the most primary functions of music--Ritual, Dance, and Song--each interpreted through the lens of the late 20th century. I focused on the central elements of each “type” of music, and then produced what amounts to a fantasia on each concept. The Ritual is subdued, and presents several different ritualistic elements before bursting into a military dance on the principle theme of the suite. The Dance is aggressive and agitated, bringing together highly contrasting material within different interpretations of the concept “rhythm”. The Song is pastoral and somewhat surreal, constantly twisting its ever-evolving theme over a subdued but persistent chordal pulse. Although the title of each piece suggests a rigid conceptual partition, various elements of each “type” of music occur freely within every movement.

D.W.
Ann Arbor, Nov. 1995