JAMES M. DAVID, composer
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All Dark Is Now No More
"passacaglia canonico e granulare"

for wind ensemble and electronics


Grade 4 - $150 - ca. 8.5 minutes

Perusal Score (opens new window)


Program Notes

“All Dark Is Now No More: Passacaglia canonico e granulare” for wind ensemble and electronics is a meditation and exultation on light, darkness, and shadow.  The title is taken from James Dickey’s poem “Sleeping out at Easter” which, for me, is an exploration of the metaphysical connection between humans and nature found at the moment of sunrise.  The lilting quality of this phrase is imitated in the primary motive first heard in low reeds and euphonium.  The Italian subtitle refers to the underlying structures of the work. The first word, passacaglia, refers to the fact that a repeating bass line is used to create numerous contrapuntal variations.  “Canonico,” or canonic, implies that many different types of canons are employed against the original bass motive.  Finally, “granulare” refers to the consistent use of granular synthesis in the electronics, which breaks apart large sounds into many segments that are then rearranged into algorithmic clouds of digital chaos.  My goal was to show a gradual movement from darkness to light in two broad sections (an adagio followed by an asymmetric allegro) culminating in a final explosion of light and shadow.
  • Electronics requirement: any phone, tablet, or computer plus amplifier and stereo PA speakers (subwoofer recommended)
  • Software requirements: any software audio player such as iTunes
  • Contact: James.David@colostate.edu for further info and questions


  • Home
  • about
  • wind ensemble
    • Message from Arecibo
    • Flying Jewels
    • Urban Light
    • Troublesome Fire
    • Symphony no. 1
    • Ghosts of the Old Year
    • Call to Commitment
    • With Soul Serene
    • March Tumbao
    • Lookfar
    • Menlo Park, 1879
    • Zephyrus
    • Flexible Instrumentation
    • Heartland Verses
    • Swing Landscape
    • I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold
    • Concerto for Vibraphone
    • The Moorlands
    • Big Four on the River
    • All Dark Is Now No More
    • Temple's Grace
    • From the Shaken Tower
    • Two-Lane Blacktop
    • Sinfonietta no. 3
  • compositions
    • wind ensemble
    • clarinet >
      • all clarinet works
      • clarinet sonata
      • AUTO '66 - Clarinet Concerto
    • saxophone >
      • all saxophone works
      • Saxophone Sonata
      • L'oiseau dans l'espace
      • Saxophone/Percussion Double Quartet
    • trombone >
      • all trombone works
      • Trombone Sonata
      • Five American Dances
      • Song of the Valar
      • Bass Trombone Sonata
      • Partiels 2
      • Garden of the Gods
    • Other Brass Works >
      • Of Unsurpassed Heroes
      • Trumpet Sonata
    • Percussion >
      • The Dandelion
      • NOLA - BELA - SOWEGA
    • large ensemble >
      • Tin Lizzies on Old Fall River
      • LASCAUX
      • KAFKA - Sax Concerto
    • chamber ensemble >
      • Clarinet and Horn Trio
    • solo / electroacoustic
    • choral / vocal >
      • KUBLA KHAN
  • contact
  • Report Performance