Skitter

Abstract

Skitter is a modern take on the classic concert overture exemplified by Rossini's La scala di sieta or Berlioz's Le carnival romain. This short piece is in four parts: an energetic fanfare, a melodic pastoral, a frenetic development of the previous materials, and an exuberant coda. The fanfare introduces much of the melodic material used throughout the work, primarily focusing on an energetic theme with a subtly shifting background. The pastoral section offers a complete contrast: the English horn, and then violas, develop an aria-like melody in an Impressionistic setting. The third section, marked "skittering," develops various motives from the first two sections while pushing toward a climactic set of fanfares. The final section is a light coda in the style of Rossini. Here the music bubbles with energy, driving toward a sudden stop.