Works » By Title » A » A Circle in the Fire (14:00 / 1985)

Finished in December 1985, “A Circle in the Fire” is based on a short story by Flannary O'Conners. The story was given a new interpretation in June 1985 when the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University, where the piece was realized, was almost destroyed by fire. The structure of the story inspired that of the piece, in which tension builds to an eventual dissipation that is reminiscent of Victoria, the 16th-century composer. At the end of the piece, I tried to leave the listener with a sense of emptiness as well as a sense of possible reconciliation with one's powerlessness. The bass clarinet part, written for Harry Sparnaay, takes advantage of his wonderful musicality and technique. The bass clarinet is the true protagonist, who seeks serenity while facing his own powerlessness. “A Circle in the Fire” was premiered in November 1986 in Sydney, Australia, and a CD recording by Clark Fobes is scheduled for 1989 by Wergo Records (West Germany). AM