From Noon to Noon
From Noon to Noon imagines a sunny day-long excursion into a park. The capricious flute solo that opens the work is full of springtime exhilaration—but the shadows grow longer as the horn, clarinet, and, eventually, the cello take the lead. The day ends a nocturnal haze, sporadically interrupted by the scurrying of night creatures. Once the languid melodic voices fall asleep, a hushed, delicate midnight scherzo of tappings and scrapings emerges. After these sounds subside, the opening solo returns—this time, in the clarinet—to greet the morning. But this time the path bends in quite a different direction: the closing section of the piece is vigorous and rhythmic, with all six instruments contributing equally to the general jubilation.
The work is inspired by Leoš Janáček, the great Czech composer whose work often engages with the boundary-lands between the natural world and the social world of humanity. Janáček is present throughout From Noon to Noon—particularly in the impish, chattering figures that punctuate the piece. Much of the melodic material is based on the opening phrase of Janáček’s first string quartet, and this quartet is dreamily quoted just before dawn. But, while Janáček’s boundary-lands are often disquieting or dangerous, my day trip is optimistic: nature here is foreign and mysterious, yes, but also invigorating.
Daniel Pesca
The creative work of composer and pianist Daniel Pesca emphasizes collaboration and flexibility, crafting works suffused with whimsy and wonder for a wide range of performers. He is a member of several new music ensembles, including the Zohn Collective and the Grossman Ensemble, and a frequent guest artist. He appears on several recordings, including albums on Centaur, Urtext, and Oberlin Music. Daniel is Director of Chamber Music and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Chicago.
www.danielpescamusic.com