Arrowhead Union High School Wind Ensemble; Jacob Polancich, conductor
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensembles; Scott Corley, conductor

The title, Instinctive Travels, was somewhat influenced by the 90's hip-hop album People's Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm by the group Tribe Called Quest. One of the things I love about the hip-hop genre is an attraction to complex rhythm and metric design. While there are no traditional "hip-hop beats" in this symphonic work, the piece is incredibly infected by rhythm, particularly a primary ostinato and other small fragments.

For me, there is also something primal about rhythm that inspired a more animalistic and chaotic musical landscape. For the listener -- and especially the musicians! -- there is little breathing room among the tension. As the musical action reaches its peak, the brass choir recites a quotation of the hymnal All Things Bright and Beautiful. This comes as a brief release, but remains plagued by the primary rhythmic motif, stated sharply in the upper woodwinds. The evolution of the piece continues to modulate and expand, never officially reaching a traditional climax. Instead, the ending is abrupt and open (in 5ths) until the search for resolution and climactic payoff can start again, perhaps in another piece.

Michael Markowski
April 20, 2011