Nocturne in Black and Gold

Gibson Mahnke

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Duo

2023

8 min.

Bass Clarinet

Marimba

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Program Notes: "Nocturne in Black and Gold" is based on the painting Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. The oil painting was completed in 1875 and currently resides in the Detroit Institute of Arts. This painting is very interesting and influential for a variety of reasons. When first displayed, it was widely criticized by art critics and gallery visitors alike. Art critic John Ruskin went as far as to say the painting was like, "flinging a pot of paint in the public's face." As a result, Whistler sued Ruskin for libel and ended up winning. The trial was highly publicized and gave Whistler a chance to defend his artwork as "artistic arrangements whose worth lay not in any imitative aspects but in their basis in transcendent ideals of harmony and beauty." His art is meant to be interpreted differently by each viewer, giving it a sense of variability. Whistler also saw his paintings as musical compositions illustrated visually. I thought it would be intriguing to do the reverse of this, and use his artwork as inspiration for music. "Nocturne in Black and Gold" is an auditory representation of Whistler's painting. Just like the painting,the music is supposed to be interpreted differently by individual audience members, as well as performers. The piece starts by painting a background upon which the rest of the music can settle upon. Ornaments are then slowly placed upon this background. Eventually, we arrive at a chaotic climax, representing the fireworks on that Whistler originally based his painting. Finally, we slowly return to the original texture as the harmonic material gets simpler and simpler. We end with a single bowed 'E', a sparkle floating on an empty canvas.
Ensemble Name: Transient Canvas (Amy Advocat, Bass Clarinet and Matt Sharrock, Marimba)