Hemispheres for Wind Ensemble by Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis

Hemispheres is a three-movement work for winds written by Joseph Turrin in May 2002. Commissioned by Kurt Masur for the New York Philharmonic, he wished to include a piece exclusively for winds and percussion in the programming of his farewell concert that commemorated his eleven years as Music Director. The work is in three movements: Genesis, Earth Canto, and Rajas which represent three different cultural views of creation. Formally, this work is based structurally and thematically on melody rather than harmony. This analysis focuses on three main tools which unify this work. The first is that thematic material from the first movement is reintroduced and developed in the second and third movements. The second is a consistently reoccurring rhythmic grouping in threes. This three note motive, found in all three movements, is used both melodically and as an accompaniment. The third is the unifying pitch center of C. Through an economy of musical means, Turrin composed Hemispheres with only a minimal number of themes and motives, each developed through the course of all three movements.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2005

Author dc:creator

• deAlbuquerque, Joan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Corporon, Eugene
• Ramsey, Darhyl S.
• Fisher, Dennis W.

• Turrin, Joseph, 1947- Hemispheres.
• three movements
• winds and percussion
• Hemispheres
• Joseph Turrin
• New York Philharmonic

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• deAlbuquerque, Joan
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 69924766
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4886/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4886

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4886