Dialogue East-West

Composed in the period immediately prior to the 'Arab Spring' uprisings and given its premiere in this concert just days after the death (execution) of Muammar Gaddafi, Michael Carl Green's "Dialogue East-West: a short colloquy for brass band" (2010) might be considered both prophetic and timely. Composer-in-Residence of The Princeton Brass Band, Mike writes:

"Dialogue East-West" is about contrast and connection. The timpani is prominently featured and is used to comment upon the agitated and yearning "East" themes; you may also hear in them the complexity and clamor of the bazaar. This leads to the introduction of the "West" theme, quite "major key", a theme that may feel obnoxiously cheery, if not somewhat triumphalist.

These elements are linked by the pulse and power of the timpani, percussively pronounced at times but also present as a quiet, persistent and mysterious throb. This is evident in the middle section, a mournful hymn-like melody that slowly builds toward a wrenching tension that then resolves into a somewhat tenuous concord. A sustained tense moment is then broken by the timpani reintroducing the agitated opening theme.

So, there has been no glorious resolution of differences, yet by bringing contrasting themes together, bringing differences "to the table", is to suggest the concept of shared influences, our common heartbeat within a colloquy of mutual respect, all mutually dependent."