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Paul Patterson: AVIAN ARABESQUES (for four harps)
Copyright © 2012 by Josef Weinberger Limited, London
All rights reserved
This edition first published in 2012 by Josef Weinberger Limited 12 - 14 Mortimer Street
London W1T 3JJ
United Kingdom
Printed in England by Commercial Colour Press
ISMN 979-0-57005-694-1
A VIAN A RABESQUES
for four harps
I.The Hovering Falcon II.Legend of the Anka III.Flight of the Phoenix
AVIAN ARABESQUES is a show piece in three movements that explores a wide-range of harp techniques and embraces a number of stylistic and harmonic idioms. It is inspired by mythically beautiful and exotic creatures that have fuelled legends of the Orient. As the title suggests, the movements are named after three exotic birds.
The opening movement, “The Hovering Falcon”, starts and ends with a series of dramatic cross-motion glissandi representing the dynamic soaring and diving of the falcon on its prey. The central core of the movement takes the form of an inverted passacaglia in 6/8 time that gently flows between the harps, giving it the sense of a relentless passage but with static motion.
The second movement, “Legend of the Anka”, has a strong oriental ambience as the harmony used is based on an Arabian mode. The mode is heard in a melody at the start (played as harmonics), followed by sweeping glissandi, suggesting the atmosphere of the Orient. Long melodic lines weave their way through a labyrinth of modal arpeggios, showing the anka’s alluring, graceful and powerful presence. Legend says the anka was an Arabian bird of huge size, large enough to carry an elephant.
The finale, “Flight of the Phoenix”, is a fast moving extravaganza that represents the flight of the firebird, where motifs and cross-rhythms are passed furiously between the players who engage in hectic conversations with sharp harmonic twists, including rising and falling chromatic scales. After a number of varying sections the work ends as the phoenix finally terminates its long flight and descends to settle back on land.
Paul Patterson
Avian Arabesques was commissioned by the Harp Department of the Royal Academy of Music and was premiered in October 2009.
Duration: c. 14 minutes
