Ominous Machine II

Work Overview

Instrumentation: 2 pianos and 2 percussion
Premiere: May 7, 2023 at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia
Duration: 14 minutes
Commissioned by the Network for New Music

Program Note

Ominous Machine II builds upon a shorter work of mine, Ominous Machine, written for piano trio in 2021. The essential material of the opening measures of the piano trio featured several short and quick figures in each of the instruments that interlock to form a whole. I use the same material for the opening but then greatly expand on the idea in this 2 piano/2 percussion work. The opening measures set the tone and groove of a highly rhythmic and visceral piece, full of “glitches” and repetitions that make the work unpredictable—but also playful—as it moves in many different directions. At the heart of the work is a slower section that pays homage to my love of Balinese gamelan, including repeating interlocking figures and pedal drones that allude to that tradition. The slower tempo doesn’t last for long, as the work gears back up to an energetic close, combining the various motivic elements into a roaring conclusion.