Wednesday, July 31, 2024

"Bizzarrini" for Euphonium


"Bizzarrini"

for Euphonium

Bil Smith Composer

2024

30" X 30"

Linke to Full Score (Hi-Res)



The score for "Bizzarrini" is designed to represent a dynamic field of three-dimensional neometrical structures, where linear induction plays a pivotal role. This induction mechanism allows facets within the score to open and close, akin to a breathing organism that responds to the stimuli of musical interpretation. As these facets shift, they mold the framework of the composition, crafting a tapestry of perspectives that blur the lines between the spatial continuities of inside and outside.



One of the key aspects of the "Bizzarrini" score is its use of visual notational vectors. These vectors are not merely ornamental but serve as metaphors that guide the interpretation of the music. They elaborate the principal themes of the composition less like a mathematical proof and more like a gravitational center, exerting a centripetal force that draws all elements toward a cohesive auditory experience.


Paying homage to the concept of hypothetical modularity, "Bizzarrini" embraces a structure that allows for varying interpretations and performances. This modularity is not just a feature of the music's construction but also a reflection of the compositional philosophy behind it.


The concept of "hypothetical modularity" refers to a theoretical framework or approach where systems, designs, or structures are conceived as being modular, but such modularity isn't physically instantiated in a fixed manner. Instead, it remains a conceptual tool used to explore and manipulate the flexibility and potential configurations of a system.

"Boxcar Full Of Air" The Full Score (PDF)



"Boxcar Full Of Air"  

For C Trumpet and Piano

Bil Smith Composer

The Full Score (PDF)

A Commission from Navistar

"Nabokov's Wearisome Cleverness" for C Trumpet. A Fanfare


Thursday, July 25, 2024

"Rhetorical Reverie" for Vibraphone. Bil Smith Composer


"Rhetorical Reverie" 

for Vibraphone.

Bil Smith Composer

PDF Link




 

“He Uttered Many A Melancholy Jest Of This Character”. The Score. For Flute, Cello and Double Bass





“He Uttered Many A Melancholy Jest Of This Character”

For Flute, Cello and Double Bass

Bil Smith Composer


A Commission from Makita Corporation

Link To Pdf Score:



























Wednesday, July 24, 2024

"Money Whispers That There Are Coyotes For Every Budget" For Ensemble




"Money Whispers That There Are Coyotes For Every Budget"

For Ensemble

(Key) Violin, Trumpet, Percussion, Cello, Alto Flute, Contrabass, Bass Guitar & Piano

Bil Smith Composer

A Commission from National Grid plc

(Laboratorie New Music)

Link to PDF Full Score:

















Sunday, July 21, 2024

"Pressed by the Scrupulous Lindsay For A Duly Executed Celebration" For Solo Oboe

 

"Pressed by the Scrupulous Lindsay For A Duly Executed Celebration"

For Solo Oboe

Bil Smith Composer


Published by LNM Editions

Link to Full Score (PDF)













"Pressed by the Scrupulous Lindsay For A Duly Executed Celebration"


At the heart of this tablature (staff) is a Morphic Guilloche framework, inspired by the architectural designs of Thom Mayne and Morphosis, as well as the graphic design aesthetics of David Carson.


The Morphic Guilloche system is central to the composition’s notation. Derived from complex geometric patterns, it intertwines elements of precision and chaos, much like the works of Thom Mayne and Morphosis. This system utilizes cyclical notation—described as “shapes in turmoil”—to depict bubbles and blobs.


These shapes, commonly used in advertising to evoke youthfulness in anti-aging products, are here transformed into omnipresent, framed elements within the score.


This notational system, consisting of bubbles and blobs creates a sense of movement and flux. This approach evokes the delicate and ephemeral nature of these forms, imbuing them with a sense of fragility rather than instrumentalizing them for narrative or marketing purposes. This concept is reminiscent of Jennifer Corvino, the neurasthenic protagonist of Dario Argento’s Phenomena, who is naively imprisoned for her own safety. Similarly, the delicate subjects in the score are sequestered, protected from external harm.


These bubbles resist definitive interpretation. They do not conform to a single vantage point but rather exist as prismatic membranes that challenge the performer to navigate an array of potential meanings. This refusal to settle into one category or the other aligns with Lacan’s notion of the signifier that slips, always deferring meaning and eluding fixed interpretation.


The bubble notation defies a binary classification. They exist in a liminal space, neither solely introspective nor purely observational, but as a complex interplay of both.


The persistent elaboration on the theme of bubbles reveals the intricate web of associations and sympathies inherent in the notation's obsessions. The bubbles, framed and sequestered within the notation, reflect an ongoing exploration of fragility and transience. They challenge the Oboist to consider the delicate balance between preservation and exposure, protection and vulnerability.