On All Fours

On All Fours arises from physical movement - there are four main sections; each concerned with dance: Prelude, Allemande, Gigue and Sarabande. These are separated by four Refrains and a Chorale. The work is continuous. The Prelude, marked ‘very tight and hard’ is the most changeable movement in both mood and direction, pinned throughout by sudden sforzando cracks from marimba and piano, and from a steel bar, brake drum, and log drum played by the brass. The 1st Refrain follows; this is a gentle duet for alto saxophone and cello, shadowed by piano and bells. The Allemande continues the feel of the duet - flute and bass clarinet meshing on a high decorated line. The 2nd and 3rd Refrains increase the tension - more instruments are added and the saxophone and cello lines glue together leading to a climax of tremolandi, repeated notes spat out coarsely and metal chimes, which plunges through trills and glass chimes into the Gigue - the roughest and hardest music of the piece. In the 4th Refrain, which follows the Gigue, the original saxophone and cello melody has been sucked up into the woodwind, this section, marked ‘tumultuous’ dies down quickly to the Chorale, which is a sparse and sombre reworking of the opening Prelude. A steady pulse is introduced - tentatively at first - which steadies the final movement, the Sarabande. The energy of the Gigue having been spent, this is darker and drowsier, using bass flute, bass oboe, bass clarinet and two low gongs, as it slackens off and fades. © Andrew Vores 1986