The original version of New Trix was written for an Anchorage brass quintet made up of local band directors (old dogs with some younger blood). Most of it was composed while jogging the Seward Highway and scrambling home to write down what was still in my head. On those days, upon entering the house, a shower was priority number two. The most notable characteristic is the constant modulation, especially in the waltz and the screamer. One could say that this characterizes the fickle nature of the composer. However, I prefer to think of it as spurts of inebriated tension and comic release, or maybe just plain relief. |
