English Spires

Listen to the work here!
 
English Spires is a work for violin and marimba, part of an ongoing series entitled M+1. This is a series of mixed duets featuring the marimba, alongside a variety of woodwind, brass, string, percussion, and other instruments. Thirty-six duets have been planned out, of which English Spires is the fifth, and these duets, following from the letter-and-number-infused title of the series, begin with letters or numbers covering the alphabet and Arabic numerals (A-Z, 0-9) once each.
 
This work is an exploration of sonata-allegro form, and the exposition, development, and recapitulation of the work all are expressions and explorations of a neo-Classical style. The violin’s theme opens the exposition with a playful energy, and the second theme maintains that character but is slightly less rambunctious. The development moves through a variety of different characters, including at a certain point highlighting a tertiary theme presented first in the violin as a counterpoint to the second theme. The work recapitulates all of these themes, and unites them in a satisfying conclusion.