Yin and Yang
Markus Stockhausen
YIN AND YANG
for the Metropole Orchestra
Yin and Yang (2011) were commissioned by the Metropole Orchestra; I wrote them between March and May of this year. My idea was to specifically write for the Metropole Orchestra, featuring their soloists, so that hopefully the pieces will be performed more often.
As is well known, yin and yang form opposites. I tried to shape Yin in a softer way, with mellow colours from the English horn, alto flutes, clarinets and flugelhorns. Four soloists – the vibraphone, guitar, harp and electric piano – form a constant layer of sound. Waves of sound emerge, announcing each new harmonic section. There are six of them, five of which are in a different Lydian scale. Only once, before the last fading section, do we find a Mixolydian scale and a steady rhythm. The rest of the piece is without a defined pulse, except for small melodic passages.
Yang starts with a sudden rush of notes, similar to the small climaxes in Yin, but then immediately invites three soloists – soprano sax, trumpet and trombone – to improvise with a vivid rhythm section accompanying them. Small, and then growing thematic sections lead first to a soprano sax solo, later to a trumpet solo, and also to a harmonic solo for electric violin. A trumpet fanfare is repeatedly fired off. Yang in general has a strong expression, with high energy and defined rhythmic grooves, but still has melodic elements that keep it pleasant. The end is a long decline of sound clouds, featuring again the underlying four soloists of Yin: a cycle is closed (this is more so when Yin and Yang are in this order). The way we hear it today, Yang ends announcing Yin...
Markus Stockhausen
June 2011
