Flagello
Gala
Self Talk for Reed Quintet
Gala Flagello 2018
Program Note
Self-Talk (2018, arr. 2024) is a piece about the stories we tell ourselves—our inner voice, our commentary on our own actions and emotions. Each movement depicts a different manifestation of self-talk. The first movement, “Fable,” musically illustrates how one might learn about themselves over time through trial and error. The rhythmic material of this movement was constructed from a line of poetry from Jim Harrison’s Suite to Fathers: “I was a fable to myself.” The second movement, “Transformation,” explores how one's perspective shifts over time, embodied by the melodic transformations heard after each musical interruption. The final movement, “Pursuit,” celebrates progress toward a dream or goal and the unexpected twists and turns one might experience in pursuit of it.
Thank you to Vanguard Reed Quintet for premiering Self-Talk and for their dedication to new music for this unique and exciting instrumentation. And many thanks to Alex Scott for commissioning a new chamber winds version of Self-Talk.
Movements:
I. Fable
II. Transformation
III. Pursuit
Instrumentation
Oboe
Clarinet in B@b
Alto Saxophone
Bass Clarinet in B@b Bassoon
Duration: 11 minutes
First printing, December 2024
Copyright © 2018 Gala Flagello. All Rights Reserved. Program Note Copyright © 2018 Gala Flagello. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com
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