Passages

Passages was commissioned by the Delta Omicron Foundation under their Thor Johnson Memorial Commission program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Delta Omicron. Passages conveys not only a musical meaning but also suggests the passing of time, in homage to Delta Omicron's Centennial Anniversary. The single-movement work, cast in Sonata Allegro form, opens with a "motto theme" of four pitches derived from the letters "THOR," consisting of G, the G an octave lower, D and F. The motto theme appears throughout the work in foreground and background guises, and it is from the motto that the first subject of the piece is derived. Although a brief lyrical second subject offers tempo and mood contrast, the work largely proceeds in a brillante fashion from opening to conclusion, exploring and then restating the motto and the two subjects. After the return of both subjects in the recapitulation, an extended coda references all thematic material to bring the work to an affirming conclusion. Premiered at the Delta Omicron Triennial Conference in Cincinnati, by the Atlantis String Quartet. Single movement.