Funk (2011)
For Violin and Guitar
Instr:
Violin and Guitar
Duration:
6 minutes
Commission:
Duo Sonidos
Premiere:
Duo Sonidos, Indiana University South Bend on March 19, 2013
Other Performances:
March 20, 2013, Duo Sonidos, Chamber Music North, Traverse City, MI April 30, 2013, Duo Sonidos, WGBH Boston/WFMT Chicago (Broadcast Premiere) January 15, 2014, Duo Sonidos, An Die Musik, Baltimore, MD January 16, 2014, Duo Sonidos, Music Center at Strathmore, Bethesda, MD February 25, 2014, Duo Sonidos, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA March 14, 2014, Duo Sonidos, Music Hall, Detroit, MI March 16, 2014, Oakland University, Detroit, MI September 11, 2015, St. Vincent's Concert Series, Latrobe, PA September 14, 2015, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
This composition for guitar and violin explores the genre of funk from the 1970s. Constructed in three sections, it features a slow, almost improvisatory first part, which eventually becomes more defined and regular in its rhythmic and beat patterns, leading to the second section. This section, in a moderate tempo, has a clear regularity, which allows the violin almost to speak (in fact, rap). This idea of almost Sprechstimme combines with the funk progressions at a fast, incessant tempo in the last section, to conclude the piece with a fast groove between the two instruments. Funk is a respectful homage to great masters of the guitar and bass like Jimi Hendrix and Bootsy Collins.