Labyrinth

I've started writing again. I played a gig in Manhattan last week, and had some spare time, so I sat down at the piano and devised a row that I liked. Of course, I don't compose strict 12-tone, but I often start with a row as a principal source of harmony and melody.

I like this one. It starts with what sounds like a polychord (F# D A E G#) and finishes with  part of a major 7th chord with a sus4. (F B G C). In the middle are Eb Bb and Db. The tri-chords make a nice progression: Major, then (E AF EF), Minor, then the M7 without a third. The tetrachords are also interesting, a D9 (no 7th), then overlaid 4ths (Ab Eb Bb Db), then the M7sus4. I've also identified 3 strata, which can serve as alternate melodies.

Well, what is the piece? I don't know yet. I would like it to be a double concerto for violin and cello with sinfonietta, but I fear 17 performers will be too large for my commission. I'm sketching it as a piano trio for now and will expand when I get more material ready.

I started the piece in the Labyrinth Room in the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. There is a labyrinth on the floor there, but as there are no choices to make to get from the outside to the center, there is no chance to make a mistake and become the Minotaur's dinner. (Sadly, no Minotaur in it either.) Hence, the working title for the piece. Actually, it fits what I would like to do musically: the violin and cello chase each other around the labyrinth, which is represented by the orchestra. I've had this idea for a long time, and I was getting to the point where I finally had to write some notes.