Kolassa, Alexander (2015) Portfolio of compositions (and accompanying commentary). PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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hoquet perpétuel

for orchestra Alexander Kolassa

(2012)

The first impetus for this piece was a short passage of music I had written originally for

the combination of piano and marimba. For me, hoquet perpétuel began as an

experiment in orchestration, in which I explored different ways to distribute the material

(originally written for two instruments)—constructed using recursive techniques and

integer sequences—across an entire orchestra. The intended result was that the material

should be entirely unrecognisable when compared alongside the original instrumental

source material. The ‘hocket’ technique—processes of this kind are found throughout

many musical cultures, see particularly the Kotekan in Indonesian gamelan—involves the

alternation of sound materials across multiple voices, and this became my primary

preoccupation here.

I have attempted to explore the various ways in which a hocket-like effect can be treated

within an orchestral context. Melodies are constructed through the exchange of pitches

on both the micro and macro level (i.e. through a duet between two clarinets, or across

the entire string section) and seek to exploit in various ways the spatial and geographical

possibilities inherent within the orchestra –that is to say, the physical space and

configurations between different instruments or combinations of instruments.

Despite all this academic and conceptual discussion, I hope that what really comes across

to the listener for much of the piece is a Stravinsky-esque sense of rhythmic immediacy

and interplay (and fun, too). For a slower middle section the lively hockets disintegrate

briefly into more slowly changing textures made of klangfarbenmelodie figures which

struggle, languishing behind contrasting chorale-like passages that emphasise dissonant

minor 2nds (the piquancy of which forms the harmonic basis of the whole work). The

piece is rounded off with an even more overt – and overtly enthusiastic – return to the

opening hocket material. This is designed to give the orchestra a real work-out before an

abrupt and striking, though with luck also satisfying, end.

(programme note: November 2012)

2 flutes

2 oboes

2 clarinets in Bb (2 doubling on bass clarinet)

2 bassoons

2 horns in F

2 trumpets

percussion (2 players)

(1) timpani, suspended cymbals, woodblocks, triangle, tam-tam, 3 tom-toms

vibraphone

strings

Flute 1

Flute 2

Oboe 1

Oboe 2

Clarinet in Bb 1

Clarinet in Bb 2

Bassoon 1

Bassoon 2

Horn in F 1

Horn in F 2

Trumpet in Bb 1

Trumpet in Bb 2

Timpani

Percussion 1

Vibraphone

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Violoncello

Contrabass

mp

slow, crawling (c. q = 65 ) getting slightly faster

mp pmf

mf

mf p

mf p p f p

p mf p f p

mf p

p f pp f

slow, crawling (c. q = 65 ) getting slightly faster

pp mp

mf p

p mp pp

slow, crawling

(c. q = 65 )

getting slightly faster

p mf ppp

mf mp pp

pp mf p

p mf p

for orchestraAlexander Kolassa (2012)

hoquet perpétuel

Bass Clarinetin Bb

con sord. senza sord.

con sord.

con sord. con sord.

susp. cymbal

sul pont.

pizz.

arco. (nat.)

3

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp f pf

(c. q=74 ) 8

mp

f

f

pf

f

fp

f

fp f

fp f

ffp f

f fp f

mf

(c. q=74 )

f ff

(c. q=74 )

mf f

f

f

f

to Piccolo

energetic

senza sord.

energetic

pizz.

arco

energetic

pizz.

arco

pizz. arco

pizz. arco

pizz. arco.

2

Picc.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

12

f f

f

mf

fp mf

p

f

p f

p mf p

f

pp mf

f

mfpp ff

p pp f

ppf

f

f

to Flute

to Clarinet in Bb

con sord.

con sord.

senza sord.

woodblocks

3

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Tri.

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

17

f

f

f mf

f

pp mppp

mf

triangle

+

(+ indicates held, o indicates open)

o + o +

+ o + o +

4

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

22

mp

mp

mp

mp

p mf

p mf

mp

p mf

pmp

pp mf p mp

pp mf p mp

p

p f p

senza sord.

5

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp f pp ff f

26

pp fpp f f

pp mf f

pp mf f

mf

mff

mf f

pp mf

fff

f ff

f ff

f ff

f ff

f pp fff

fpp f

f p fff

fpp f p f p f

f p f p f ff

pp ff ff

3

3

33 3

f

3

Bass Clarinetin Bb

3

3 33

f

6

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf f

poco (!) meno mosso33

mf f p

pp mf p

mp

mp

mp

poco (!) meno mosso

p

poco (!) meno mosso

pp mp

p mp pp

to Piccolo

3

senza sord

con sord.

con sord.

div.

div.

mp

unis.

sul tasto.

7

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

a tempo40

mp f

f

f

ff p

f p f

f p f

f fp mf f

fmp

fp f

mf fp mf f

mf fp f p mf

f mp

a tempo

pp mf

ff mfpp

a tempo

pp

pp

f

f

mf

senza sord.

woodblocks

uni.

nat.

8

Picc.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

poco rit.

45

f

f

f

f

p ff f

fp

f

f p

f

f

mf f

mf f

mf mp

poco rit.

mf

ffp f

poco rit.

f

f f fp

f fmp

ff f

to Flute

con sord.

con sord.

ff

pizz. arco.

pizz. arco.

pizz.arco.

pizz.

arco.

9

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

meno mosso, steady, crawling, evolving

50

ff

f

p f mf mp mf

p fmf

mp mf mp

p f mf

p f pp p f pp

ff

meno mosso, steady, crawling, evolving

mf mf pp mpmeno mosso, steady, crawling, evolving

f

f

f

f

Clarinet in Bb 2

3

senza sord.

3

(con sord) 3 senza sord.

3

gliss.

gliss.

10

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

poco rit. 57

p mf

pp fp mf p

mf p mp

poco rit.

mpmf mp

ff pp

poco rit.

mp ppp mp p

mp mf p ff pp

pff

ff

3

desk 1. div.

desk 1 unis.

tutti

desk 1.

mp

div.

tutti

desk 1. div.

desk 1 unis. 3

3

tutti

desk 1. div.

tutti 3

11

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

fp fpp mf

poco accel.

64

fp fpp mf

fp f pp mf

fp fpp mf

p pp mf

pp mf

pp mf

mf

mf

mf

mf

poco accel.

mf

ff mp mf fff mf

poco accel.

f mp mf fff mf

ff mp mf fff mf

pp mf fff mf

ff

ff pp f ff mf ff

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

12

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf p mp

70

mf pp

p

mf mp

mf

mp pp mp pp

pp mp

ppmp pp

ppp

mfp

ppp mf

p

ppmf p

pp p mp

mp mf

mp

mf pmf p

p mf p

mf p

mf p

mp

senza sord.

susp. cymbal

3

3 3

3

3

pizz. arco.

3 3

13

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

poco accel. 75

mp f pp

mf mp f p

p fp

pp fp

p f

p f

pp ff pp ff pp ff

pp ff pp ff pp ff

pp ff pp ff pp ff

pp ff pp ff pp ff

poco accel.

pp f

pp

mf mp

poco accel.

mf mp

mf

mfmp mf

pp mf

mf

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

senza sord

3

div.

3

3

3

3

14

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

rit. 80

p

p

mf pp

pp mf

pp mf

pp mf

pp mf

rit.

mf

mp mp

rit.

mp

mf mp

mp mf mp f pp f

mpmf mp

f ppf

mp mfpp

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

tam-tam

(damp.)

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

sul pont.

3

3

15

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p f p pp

86

p mf pp pp

mp mf p pp

pp

pp

pp mp

f pmf p pp pp

f p

p pp

p pp

p

f p f

mf

mf f

pp mp

pp mf

pp f pp f pp pp mp

ppf pp

f pp pp mp pp

pp

con sord.

3

3

3

nat.

3

3

16

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

93

mf

mf mp mf pp p

mfmf mp

mfmf pp

mf mp

mf p

f p

p

mf

fmp

pp

pp mpf pp f pp

pp mp f ppf pp f pp

f

mf mp

Piccolo

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

senza sord.

3

3

3

sul pont.

3

norm sul pont.

3

17

Picc.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff mf

a tempo, energetic

101

f

mp mf

mp mf

f

a tempo, energetic

f

a tempo, energetic

f

f

mff

mf f

to Flute

pizz.

arco

pizz.

arco.

pizz. norm. arco

pizz.arco

pizz.

nat. pizz.

18

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Tri.

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

107

f

mf f

f

pp mf

p f

p f

p f

p f

mf

mf

mpf

mp f

f f

mpf

f

mpff

triangle

+ o + o +

arco.

pizz.arco.

arco. arco. pizz. arco.

arco.

pizz.

arco.

pizz. arco.

19

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff

112

f

f

f

ff

mf

mf

mf

mf

mf

To Piccolo

Bass Clarinetin Bb

pizz. arco.

pizz.

20

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc.

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf f

116

ff mf p

ff

mp f f

mp f

mp f

f

fp

fp

ffp

fp

mf

mp f mf mp f mf

p mf pp mf p p mf p

f ffp

f

f

f

f

f

f f

senza sord.

tomtoms

pizz. pizz.

21

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

119

mp f

f

p f

f p f

f ff f

f ff f

f ff f

f fff

pp mf

p mf p p mf p

pf

pp

pp

pp

f

to Flute

to Clarinet in Bb

woodblocks

pizz. arco.

22

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

rit.

122

p mf

f

f p mf

f p f

f

rit.

mf f

mp

rit.

mp

mp

f mp

triangle

o + o

23

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

a tempopoco accel.

128

pp f

pp f

f mf mp

f mfmp

mp mf mp

mp mf mp

pp ff

pp ff

pp ff

pp ff

a tempopoco accel.

mf

a tempopoco accel.

f m p

f mp

mf f mp

triangle

o + o

24

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mpf

133

f

f

mp f

ff f

mp f mpf

ff f

f

f pp f

f pp f

fpp f

f pp f

ff

mpf

f mpf

f mpf

f

3

3

33 3

33 3

con sord. senza sord.

mp

pizz.arco.

pizz.

arco.

pizz.

pizz. arco

pizz.

arco. arco.

25

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff f

136

ff f

ff f

ff f

ff f

ff f

fff

f ff

fff

f ff

mf f

pp

f mf f

ff mf f

ff f

ff p ff

3

26

Fl.

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Timp.

Perc. 1

Vib.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

140

f

f

f

f

ff pp f f

f

f

mp f pp ff

mp f pp ff

f pp ff

p f pp ff

mp f f mp

f pp

f mf p

f mf f

mf f

mf f

mf f

mf f

woodblocks

27