"Elara Eclipse" For Piccolo Saxophone (Soprillo), Inderbinen Big Bell B Flat Trumpet and Theorbo. Bil Smith Composer

"Elara Eclipse"

For Piccolo Saxophone (Soprillo), Inderbinen Big Bell B Flat Trumpet

and Theorbo

Bil Smith Composer

2023

Published by LNM Editions

A Commission from Munich Re

The composition "Elara Eclipse" for Piccolo Saxophone (Soprillo), Inderbinen Big Bell B Flat Trumpet, and Theorbo employs a paratactic notational system which is based on my theorem of juxtaposing musical elements without connecting them in a linear fashion which creates a sense of fragmentation and non-linearity that is characteristic of the postmodernist era in which we live.

The use of the Paratactic notational system is significant because it challenges the traditional approach to music composition, which has often been characterized by a linear, hierarchical structure. In contrast, the Paratactic notational breaks down these structures and allows for a more fluid and open-ended approach to composition.

One of the central themes of the composition is the idea of identity and its construction through power relations. This is reflected in the use of historically diverse instruments and their interaction with each other, which creates a sense of hierarchy and dominance.

At the same time, however, there is also a sense of resistance and subversion that runs through the composition. The different elements challenge and disrupt each other, creating a sense of instability and ambiguity that reflects the fluid nature of identity and power.

The use of the Inderbinen Big Bell B Flat Trumpet and Theorbo also adds a historical dimension to the composition. Both instruments are associated with different time periods and cultural contexts, and their inclusion in the composition creates a sense of continuity and connection between the past and present.