999 Light Bulbs

A piece for my 3-Part Counterpoint class.

This piece for Bb Clarinet, Trumpet, and Violoncello uses techniques common to imitative counterpoint in the 18th century. I consider it to be a contemporary "invention," playing with both motivic development and comparative timbre.

The sound at the beginning is the performers tuning up. The three performers are:
Thomas Carroll, Clarinet
Emily Lawyer, Trumpet
Shigeko Landin, Cello

The piece's title comes from the legend that Thomas Edison created 999 light bulbs that failed, before the thousandth one, which succeeded. The story really has nothing to do with the piece, though I feel that if you were to keep the story in mind, you could sort of see a connection. The reason I chose the title is because this piece is an invention, the light bulb was an invention... see, it works.

THE LINK TO MY SOUNDCLICK

What do you guys want before I get a comment - you want a score or something?

I actually tried to comment, but my internet died, haha.

I loved the piece, the interlocking melodies, the tension and release --- beautiful. Reminds me of a poorly-lit inventor's shop.

Several likeable things about this: the live performance, the opening imitative phrases and the cohesion. A little is lost in the recording unfortunately - the cello needs a bit more presence if you use this set up again. I could just hear it (I think) in the final chord. The players made a brave go considering the tempo; this kind of music isn't easy for an ensemble unless they play together often.

I felt it was a little unvarying in texture but as it was set as a 3-part piece, fine! The expansion/development (whatever you want to call it) at 1:22 was engaging.

If I had other comments they'd be stylistic so irrelevant. And if it were performed often, the ensemble would get better nuances in the quieter dynamics.

If it was a class exercise, it come out well. Not out of keeping with your style, however!

Apologies I didn't comment sooner. Been a bit busy.
cheers,
M