Program Notes
Notes on selected original compositions by Dan Drizlikh, including background, mood, instrumentation, and musical ideas behind the works.
Solo Instrument
Farewell (2022) — Solo piano
A solo piano work that lets us reminisce on our memories of what we did through the year as we anticipate and prepare for what will come in the next year. Inspiration comes from looking out your window to see the sun set one last time before the year comes to a close, watching the sunset create beautiful colors in the sky and clouds. A new year opens a door to new possibilities.
Sonata for Alto Saxophone (2018) — alto saxophone
Having played the saxophone for many years, I had decided to compose another three-movement work for the instrument. Despite the name, it was not written like a traditional sonata, although it still has some elements of recurring materials. The movements do not have a sense of key while remaining somewhat tonal as well.
Unfettered (2020) — Solo piano
This is a solo piano work influenced by Debussy, drawing influence from his impressionism while adding twists to the solo. Like his works, the piano will flow freely from passage to passage. Most of this will consist of aspects of his etudes such as moving in certain intervals as well as his preludes. Each section will have a vague sense of key a la Debussy’s writing, which will be mostly prominent in the piece.
Chamber / Ensemble
Sagrir (2021)
Sagrir is a work for violin, cello, and piano that expresses solemnity of a rainy day and hints a feeling of relaxation upon watching the steady rain outside. Its name comes from the Hebrew word “sagrir” that describes a cold, dark, and overcast rainy weather. The piece takes on the perspective of one who watches the rain from the security of their home. This work aims to capture the emotions with repetitive motifs and fluctuating contour, as the strength of the rain varies time and again.
Delightful Stroll (2022)
Delightful Stroll is a Clarinet and Piano duet with a charming yet strange aura. This carries a playful style with its skippy passages at a moderate pace. The motif that begins on the piano is the main idea that drives the piece with its carefree nature. While somewhat repetitive, the piece builds up to newer material later on, still using said motif on occasion.
Triumphant (2020)
Triumphant is a three-movement work for woodwinds and strings. The piece follows the feeling of moving through a journey with determination, where obstacles arise but do not stop the forward motion. The first and third movements carry a victorious character, while the second movement shifts into a more hopeless mood before the work returns toward resolution.
Electronic
The Outer Reaches (2019)
Created in software programs FL Studio with Kontakt, this work is one that originated from a dream I had. My inspiration was the tranquility of the depths of space, and the video version is set to orbital footage of earth courtesy of NASA. With orchestral and synth instruments, it takes on a serene yet tense atmosphere as it goes along.
Unending Chaos (2020)
Built in Max 8, Unending Chaos creates a shifting sound world of tension, discomfort, and instability. The piece uses a generative patch to trigger sounds at changing rates and volumes, producing different results each time it is played. Sustained dissonances and unpredictable changes give the work its uneasy, chaotic atmosphere.
Within The Grassy Valley (2021)
An elegant tribal song created using Kontakt via FL Studio. Its main influence is the tranquil ambience of the forests at night as well as tracks from an old video game named Unreal. The main string harmony was also inspired by some of my warmup chords on the piano.