Volution II expansion pack (2015)

Program Notes:

This an expansion pack for cello and piano to my piece for piano solo Volution II. My Volution pieces are a series of pieces that employ a single musical phrase, which is also one pitch set, to create an entire piece. The musical phrase in this piece does not develop, but rather revolves again and again in internally-logical evolution. Practically every pitch in the piece results from this internal logic, but I hope it is possible to enjoy this piece even without consciously following the logic. The following explanation is provided for those who want to follow that internal logic.

A short introduction in which the basic pitch set of the piece (squared) is presented backwards. It is followed by a simple appearance of the basic phrase of the piece which then repeats at the pitches of the basic pitch set of which it consists, while the rhythmic relationship between the piano and the become more complex.

After the the phrase has been played in all the pitches of the set, the phrase is played in inversion as the rhythmic relationships become simpler again.

In the middle section of the piece, the phrase (or its accompaniment, but not both) begin to wander through the pitch set within each statement of the phrase, causing interesting harmonies. The phrase is sometimes straight and sometimes inverted.

The last section is something of a recapitulation in which the original phrase appears alternately straight and inverted but always in the original (non-inverted) pitch set. The piece ends with a coda consisting of a slow irregular arpeggiation of the original pitch set (squared) against an extra slow presentation of the basic phrase in the cello.