The Code

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Like the underscore of an international spy movie, The Code promises drama from the opening bar. The evocative harmonies in F-sharp minor, plus tight moving lines and syncopated rhythms, immediately catch one’s ear and give young players a variety of musical challenges — keeping a steady pulse while playing syncopation, maintaining good intonation on an individual melody when it’s part of a close voicing, emphasizing countermelodies as they move in and out of prominence, and playing with accuracy within a group when different techniques are being used in different sections of the group — i.e. m. 20: violins: legato and sul tasto, viola: pizzicato, cellos: legato and espressivo, basses staccato and marcato.The first 19 bars build in intensity, and as it begins to peak the mood immediately shifts at m. 20 to a pastoral, legato. The cellos are featured here with a graceful melody, played beautifully with a singing tone. The sul tasto high notes in the violins and the pizzicato violas are the accompaniment and are played delicately. Violas are the driving pulse at m. 32 and can bring out the repeated figures there. After a vigorous question and answer section at m. 51, the piece breaks at m. 61 and resumes with a glorious, lush setting at m. 62. Measure 70 is the chase to the end with the full ensemble sparkling, playing driving staccatos to the spirited unison ending. The Code could be the theme for the next show in the Law and Order franchise! Full of mystery, restlessness and lyrical overtones, this work will make your group sound simply awe-inspiring.

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