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The Webster Cycles

by Steve Peters

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1.
The Webster Cycles 29:45
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about

As it casually explores the trombone’s timbres, “The Webster Cycles” is at times lush, at times stark. Mobile-like in the way that phrases and individual notes drift in and out and twist as if blown by the wind, it is something of a musical conundrum: comfortably adrift in a sense of motionlessness yet definitely propelled by a sense of forward motion. From moment to moment, an individual voice calls out or a crowd murmurs or voices unite in contrapuntal or parallel efforts.

The Webster Cycles, an open-ended piece for any combination of wind instruments and/or voices, allows for a good bit of decision-making and improvisation on the part of the performer(s). In the present recorded version, six trombone parts were performed (via overdubbing) by noted composer/performer J.A. Deane. The result is a beautifully coherent yet ever-changing music that slowly shifts its texture and harmonic focus as if its individual parts were refractions of a giant aural prism. The wonderful, subtle inflections and tonal shadings that Deane brings to each phrase imbue the piece with a vibrant, palpable sense of energy and motion.

The piece’s score is constructed from a selection of words drawn from a Webster’s dictionary. The words become pitch sequences, or melodic phrases, that are to be played within the duration of a long breath. These sequences/phrases are grouped into seven sections, which the performer(s) may perform in any order they wish while maintaining the internal order of phrases within each section.

Like the music on the composer’s previous Cold Blue CD, “from shelter” (CB0018), The Webster Cycles blends the abstract with the idiomatic. Pure tones hang serenely in the air as trombonist J.A. Deane’s lively ornaments and articulations acknowledge his instrument’s long association with various types of jazz.

“Deane is a soulfully expressive musician and, despite the calm and coolness of Peters’s music, his interpretation has immediate emotional appeal as well as seductive depth.” —Julian Cowley, The Wire magazine

“The overlapping trombones…immerse you in 30 minutes of incantatory bliss—imagine floating into an ocean-sized harbor bounded by distant foghorns. Essential.” —Christopher DeLaurenti, The Stranger (Seattle)

“Solemn and spacious…. Subtle music for late evenings.” —Vital Weekly

Peters’ music…has in abundance what I miss in so much new American music: strong commitment to an aesthetic goal, and adherence to that goal without compromise.… Bring on more Steve Peters!” —Sequenza21

“Pure, restrained and rigorously beautiful.” —Alvin Curran

credits

released April 8, 2008

J.A. Deane, trombone

Recorded by Steven M. Miller, Contemporary Music Program, College of Santa Fe, 1998, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Recording was produced by Steve Peters and mixed by Steve Peters and Steven M. Miller.
Mastered by Scott Fraser, Architecture, Los Angeles, CA.

CD was produced by Steve Peters and Jim Fox.
Cover design by Jim Fox. Cover photograph by Wade Lageose.
CD ©p 2008 Cold Blue Music; composition © 1981 Steve Peters.
All rights reserved. Cold Blue Music, Venice, CA
www.coldbluemusic.com

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Steve Peters Seattle, Washington

Peters composes for concerts, recordings, art venues, public places, dance and theater, radio, and moving image. His work is often site-based, combining location sound with voices, instruments, electronics, and found or natural objects. He performs with the Seattle Phonographers Union and frequently collaborates with artists in other disciplines. ... more

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