AMP (2022)

Instrumentation: concerto for piano and wind ensemble

Difficulty: Grade 5

Duration: 18’-20'

Commissioned by: Marianne Parker and the University of Illinois Chicago Wind Ensemble, conducted by Nicholas Carlson

Movements: 

1. Rude Awakening (Behold the Urban Dawn)

2. Skyway Grooves

3. Drrrrop

4. Songs of Common Ground

5. Recognize

6. Neon Bacchanal

Program Note:  AMP - a theatrical concerto for piano and wind ensemble - was commissioned by Marianne Parker and the University of Illinois Chicago Wind Ensemble, conducted by Nicholas Carlson. Written from the summer through winter of 2022, it is a six-movement concerto performed without pause showcasing the expressive, technical, and stylistic capabilities of the instrument. Contemporary classical, jazz, neo-soul, hip hop, golden-era Hollywood film score, samba, and Modernist musics all collide and intermingle over eighteen and a half minutes to present a sonic tapestry of life in 21st-century United States.

The six movements roughly depict a “day in the life” of a city resident. Movement one, “Rude Awakening (Behold the Urban Dawn),” presents two moods – one clangorous and gritty, the other serene. I imagine this to be the internal conflict between needing to rush out the door to start one’s day and the desire to simply sit and watch the tranquil sun rise. “Skyway Grooves” is the depiction of a manic morning commute and work life. This second movement was almost entitled “Variations at 85 Miles Per Hour” as I think of it as a kind of frenzied variations in search of a theme. A simple minor third-inflected rhythmic motive forms the basis of much of the material here.

“Drrrrop” is a climactic interlude wherein the hustle and bustle reaches a boiling point. After a whistle blast from the soloist, we hear a quotation of Akira Ifukube’s "Gojira Tai Mosura" (sampled by Pharoahe Monch in his classic "Simon Says"). The ensemble creates a furious beat and lets off some steam! (By the way, the four “r”s in this movement title are a nod to the commissioning soloist’s Instagram handle.)

“Songs of Common Ground” is the emotional core of the entire composition. The work day is over and we reflect on the need for peace, shelter, and community. This movement is a chaconne, meaning that an eight-measure chord progression is repeated multiple times with new melodies and ideas emerging over a central set of harmonies. During the conclusion, the audience is invited to sing a drone as the solo pianist spins a soulful chorale around the sustained note.

“Recognize” is a cadenza for the soloist that bridges the previous movement with the finale. Careful listeners may recognize remixed musical ideas they have already heard in the concerto thus far.

"Neon Bacchanal" serves as the conclusion of the concerto and of the day of our urban protagonist. Imagine a summer nighttime block party where the temperature is still over 90 degrees, the crowd is packed, and different dance music tracks are all overlapping to create a delirious, chaotic, wild, fun festival. AMP accelerates to its dramatic, over-the-top final measures that smash together Prokofievian gestures and big band jazz polychords.

Full Score Download: Click here to download the full transposed score in PDF format

Purchase Parts: Contact the composer directly to inquire about programming AMP