The Sequoia Trio for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon (2009)
Program Note by Jenni Brandon
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Inspired by quotes about the great Sequoia trees in John Muir’s book, The Yosemite, each movement celebrates a different characteristic of these proud, giant trees. Muir’s words, “graceful compliance” inspired the first movement. It struck me that, although these trees are massive, there is still something gentle and approachable in their fluid motions. The opening waving pattern creates the gentle breeze as the growth of the tree starts in the bassoon, moving through the clarinet and all the way to the top of the trees with the oboe. The second movement describes “A crowd of hopeful young trees and saplings….” It is sassy and jazzy, giving the young trees the kind of resilient attitude that they must maintain in order to survive. “The Three Graces” of the third movement plays on the idea of the three instruments in the ensemble and Muir’s own reference to Greek mythology, or the goddesses of charm, beauty, and creativity. I loved the idea that these trees might stand next to each other, yet separately, for years, but eventually their trunks will touch and meld together. Each instrument takes its turn becoming part of this conglomeration by leaving the tutti staccato patterns with a held note and then launching into the melody while the other two continue the staccato pattern of growth. Finally in “The Noble Trees” the instruments play a hymn-like tribute to the largest living things on earth, ending with remembrances of the opening movement and their gracefully waving branches. Following movement one and movement three are “Tree Interlude One” and Tree Interlude Two.” These represent the individual voice of a tree, allowing it to speak out across the forest and tell us its story and the history it has seen for thousands of years.
I. Sequoiadendron giganteum: The Big Tree "Southward the giants become more and more irrepressibly jubilant, heaving their massive crowns into the sky from every ridge and slope, waving onward in graceful compliance with the complicated topography of the region." Tree Interlude One II. "A crowd of hopeful young trees and saplings..." "But here for every old storm-beaten giant there are many in their prime and for each of these a crowd of hopeful young trees and saplings, growing vigorously on moraines, rocky ledges, along water courses and meadows." III. The Three Graces "Groups of two or three (sequoias) are often found standing close together...They are called "loving couples," "three graces," etc... By the time they are full-grown their trunks will touch and crowd against each other..." Tree Interlude Two IV. The Noble Trees "...the Big Trees (sequoia gigantean), the king of all the conifers in the world, 'the noblest of the noble race.’" Quotes taken from The Yosemite, 1912 by John Muir Text is in the public domain. |
Kennen White, clarinet & MaryBeth Minnis, bassoon
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