Robert C. Ehle
Hovenweep:
4 horns, 4 trumpets in C, three trombones and tuba, as well as tympani and bass drum
, United States
Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2007
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com
Score and parts
Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)
Hovenweep:
4 horns, 4 trumpets in C, three trombones and tuba, as well as tympani and bass drum
, United States
Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2007
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com
Score and parts
Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)
Dr. Ehle entitles compositions with the name of places he has visited. Hovenweep is a national monument on the Colorado-Utah border. The music is itself a fixed portrait, as the interval of a perfect fifth supports the entire landscape, which is stolid and unyielding. The piece consists of each brass section, four horns, four trumpets in C, three trombones, and tuba, as well as tympani and bass drum, moving in parallel fifths. Furthermore, each brass section utilizes only one rhythm in a 4/4 meter, quarter note equals 120: quarter notes for horns, dotted quarters for trumpets, and half notes for low brass. Different tonal centers re-focus the arid landscape, but not nearly enough to allow the visitor to this uni-dimensional chasm to wander off the prescribed path for even for a moment. Monolithic structures of great age can allow for some ruminating or inspiration; this work tends to fasten the listener's aural seat belt too snugly. -Joel Elias Sacramento State University