Program Note for Quintessence (1981)
Quintessence is a chamber concerto scored for clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, piano, synthesizer, and percussion. The work unfolds as a series of virtuosic transitions and episodes framing duo cadenzas for percussion/clarinet, four hand piano, and cello/percussion, the first and last of which begin by featuring one instrument, evolve into a duo, then feature the other (a kind of "cross-fade" cadenza).
Quintessence was written for my fellow members of the California EAR Unit, who gave the premiere performance in 1981. Along with its reference to the number five, which is nested in the piece on many levels, the title refers to what I think of as the quintessential element (heavenly ether) of music, the life and spirit that performers bring to it.