article iii

Article III takes its title from the portion of the Constitution that outlines the role of the Supreme Court. This piece aims to showcase the overwhelming power of the court and the powerlessness of the people to change it. While brass musicians can play exceptionally loudly, electronic sounds consistently overpower the performers in both volume and range. Extended performance techniques—such as split tones, half-valve techniques, playing range and mutes—further inhibit the musicians’ ability to play loudly. The electronics also dictate the tempo of the performance and reduce the performers’ agency to make musical decisions. The piece contains tightly controlled musical material that does not allow the ensemble to break from their subservient role in the piece. Through both explicit reproduction of court proceedings and the underlying relationships defined by musical structures, Article III questions the authority of the Supreme Court to rule with minimal interference from dissenting civilians.