FRANK STEMPER, COMPOSER
So It Goes (1999)
for clarinet, trumpet, piano , percussion [19mins.]
Premiered at the Society of Composers Region III Conference at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Toured extensively through the U.S. and recorded (Centaur Records) by Pastiche in New Orleans.
Opus 40 — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 491212907
SCORE
Opus 40 — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 491212907
SCORE
PROGRAM NOTES:
So It Goes was written during the winter of 1998-99 just after the death of my father. It was written for PASTICHE, a Louisiana based ensemble who premiered, performed and recorded (Centaur Records) the piece. The title comes from the novel, Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. In the book, the main character, Billy Pilgrim becomes “unstuck in time,” traveling abruptly from one point in his life to another - much like the formal setting of this piece, which has a rather flexible form, jumping abruptly back and forth from one formal moment to the next. In Vonnegut’s novel, “So it goes” was a recurring expression used in reference to the death of someone, or in one case thousands of Dresden citizens during World War II. In my case, just my dad.
So It Goes was re-composed in 2003 for the CATALYST ENSEMBLE in Haddersfield, England, adding the flute and trombone, and re-titling it, So It Goes (and goes).
So It Goes was written during the winter of 1998-99 just after the death of my father. It was written for PASTICHE, a Louisiana based ensemble who premiered, performed and recorded (Centaur Records) the piece. The title comes from the novel, Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. In the book, the main character, Billy Pilgrim becomes “unstuck in time,” traveling abruptly from one point in his life to another - much like the formal setting of this piece, which has a rather flexible form, jumping abruptly back and forth from one formal moment to the next. In Vonnegut’s novel, “So it goes” was a recurring expression used in reference to the death of someone, or in one case thousands of Dresden citizens during World War II. In my case, just my dad.
So It Goes was re-composed in 2003 for the CATALYST ENSEMBLE in Haddersfield, England, adding the flute and trombone, and re-titling it, So It Goes (and goes).