Missing Words IV (2018, rev. 2021)
for Flute, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, Percussion
Commissioned by Boston Musica Viva for its 50th Anniversary Season
Program Note
“Missing Words IV” (2018) is the fourth in an ongoing series of compositions composed in homage to Ben Schott’s book, Schottenfreude (Blue Rider Press/Penguin Group), a collection of newly created German words for the contemporary world. The German language has the capability to create new words through the combination of shorter ones and can express complex concepts in a single word for which there is no direct translation in other languages. Such words include Schadenfreude, Doppelgänger and Wanderlust, and these have been adopted into use in English. With his new book, Ben Schott proposes new words missing from the English language that we can choose to adopt into our own vocabulary.
In my work, I take three of Schott’s words, and their various conceptual associations, as points of creative departure. The first movement responds to the word, “Erkenntnisspaziergang,” which Schott directly translates as “Cognition-Stroll,” and defines as a walk taken with the specific intent of thinking. In such walks, there is a beauty in how the body diligently maintains a walking pace while we consciously drift to other worlds, tuning out the word around us. The second movement responds to the word, “Dreiecksumgleichung,” which Schott translates as “Triangle-Reorganization.” He defines this as when you introduce two friends together and they form a new relationship without you. This movement is conceived as a mini-ballet between two trios of friends. The final movement is the most abstractly associated with the word that inspired it, “Tageslichtspielschock,” which Schott translates as “Daylight-Show-Shock.” This word refers to the shocking sensation of experiencing bright daylight when leaving a dark theater. Like the first movement, we find ourselves in an internal world, far removed from the one outside. But, here, perhaps there is a need stay longer and reflect before summoning the strength to return to the light that awaits.
“Missing Words IV” was commissioned by Boston Musica Viva. The movement titles of Missing Words, and their translations and definitions, quote text from Schottenfreude by Ben Schott. Copyright © 2013 by Ben Schott. Used by permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Listen
I. Erkenntnisspaziergang (Cognition-Stroll)
“A perambulation taken with the specific intention of contemplation.” (Schott, Schottenfreude)
II. Dreiecksumgleichung (Triangle-Reorganization)
“When two friends you’ve introduced form a new friendship that excludes you.” (Schott, Schottenfreude)
III. Tageslichtspielschock (Daylight-Show-Shock)
“Being startled when exiting a movie theater into broad daylight.” (Schott, Schottenfreude)
Recorded by International Contemporary Ensemble | Nicholas DeMaison, conductor (on Missing Words, New Focus Recordings)
Duration: 18 minutes