Performed by Timonthy Dobby, Andrei Burdeti, Daniel Goldthwaite, and Adam Cicchillitti Recorded by Gonzalo Garcia at Clara Lichtenstein Hall, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Inspired by the working methods of Dmitri Shostakovich, I set about composing Waves Obsidian as a personal challenge in speed writing. It was completed on Christmas Eve 2008, six days after having conceived the form of the piece – and just in time to submit it to the Montreal International Classical Guitar Composition Competition, where it took 1st Prize in the ensemble category.
The piece is in sonata form, with introduction. Since the harmonic/melodic language is mainly based on modality and parsimonious voice leading, I established a plagal relationship between the principal theme in E minor and the subordinate one in A minor – two eminently guitaristic keys. The entire Exposition is underscored by a constantly rocking, wavelike arpeggiation texture that is passed around between the guitars.
The Development abruptly takes on the character of a ‘metal’ scherzo, which is based around a B-flat tonal centre. Here the arpeggiation texture turns jagged, while melodically the piece shifts from modality to total chromaticism and the harmonies proceed in third-related motions.
The Recapitulation stays true to form, with both themes from the Exposition returning in the ‘home key’ of E minor. As an ironic jab at my own training in avant-garde composition, I end the piece with an unambiguously bright E major harmony, which provides a sense of stability, calm, and closure.
