<<  -- 4 --  Bill Newman    PERFECT BLENDINGS

Janet Beat's Dynamism: Scherzo-Toccata is more difficult to analyse. Repeated figures intensify the textures, in line with Italian futurist artist painting.

Richard Nye's Online, on the other hand, illustrates the interaction of computer programming. The music becomes more complex, evolving into various rhythmic patterns with contrasting ideas. Outwardly, the rhythmic figures can be likened to Copland's Danzon Cubano.

Sebastian Forbes' Interplay 2 (from a first opinion of his music in Grove) stands for intentional toughness interladen with subtle harmonies, as in 'plotting'. While much of the writing is palindromic (folding back on itself), the harmonic range is bigger and more exploratory, repetition of motifs strengthening the continuity of line. The most abstract piece on the programme, its style might at a previous time be included under the title 'Musique Concrète'. It calls for considerable coordination by the players.

Andrew Peggie's Octo-Paganini is a new set of variations on Paganini's famous Caprice No 24. Heard in this context, it involves the destruction and re-incarnation of the melody; at the close it appears over and above a series of jazz pianist sevenths. A brief middle section contains off-beat strumming, while tone clusters finally give way to richly-scored harmonic passagework. A terrific piece: it was performed with tremendous verve and mastery.

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