Three Poetics for Viola and Bassoon

This composition consists of three movements that are influenced by poetic forms.I. Shadorma - A shadorma has 6 line stanzas where the lines have a syllable count of 3,5,3,3,7,5 respectively. The syllable count was translated into meter therefore creating 3/8, 5/8, two measures of 3/8, 7/8, and 5/8 resulting in 6 measure phrases.II. Cinquain - A cinquain is an American Poem invented by Adelaide Crapsey. It is five lines long and uses a syllable count of 2,4,6,8,2 to determine the line breaks. Three possible variants are mirror 2,4,6,8,2,4,6,8,2; butterfly 2,3,6,8,2,2,4,6,8,2; and reversal 2,8,6,4,2. Mirror and reversal are used in this movement therefore creating a pattern of 2,4,6,8,2,8,6,4,2. The syllable count is reflected in the number of notes in each phrase. III. Bantu - The bantu originated from Swahili speakers therefore incorporating the idea of call and response. The stanzas are couplets where the first line is more metaphorical and the second line more concrete. Call and response between each instrument permeates this movement with alternations of which instrument is the leading voice.