Prelude Dissension

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GRADE 4

Prelude Dissension is an examination on how to build tension musically without changing notes, but rather rhythms. When writing my symphony for band Perches in the Soul, I was studying how to build tension, with the middle section of the third movement of the symphony builds tension by rising chromatically and being uneven in meter throughout. With Prelude Dissension, I also wanted to write a piece that could open a concert or be played write after intermission, but not in a traditional way. I did not want to write a bright, joyous piece but rather a dark and powerful one. Therefore, I combined these two ideas. The piece is written with the same five chords used throughout the work but speeds up rhythmically throughout. With influences of Shostakovich, Mahler and film music, Prelude Dissension is a dark, powerful, tension-building composition that can be used to open a concert or used to open after intermission.