On Death and Dying

On Death and Dying is named after the 1969 book with the same name by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who developed the Kübler-Ross model, or better known as the five stages of grief, namely Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Each of the miniatures depicts each of these stages, exploring a variety of characters, tonalities and emotions.

Denial explores a juxtaposition of characters between a fiery and fast-paced lower brass trio against a sing-songy solo trumpet. The primary pitch materials used are also complementary, with the brass trio and trumpet using a 5-11 and 7-11 set class respectively.

Anger continues directly from Denial, with the brass trio using the 7-11 set class. The unpredictability of anger and lashing out is portrayed through a variety of timbres with the use of stopped horn and mutes, as well as unpredictable musical gestures of sudden dynamic changes and swells, and lengthy silences.

Bargaining is explored in the form of a trumpet duo that utilises the hexatonic scales and its transpositions. The two trumpets are pitted against each other through a disagreement of pitches, articulation and intervals. Although the first trumpet is sometimes able to haggle something similar to the second trumpet, they ultimately fail to match each other.

Depression continues directly from Bargaining, with the first trumpet exploring three distinct characters, distinguished by the use of timbre, articulation and length. Each register of the trumpet depicts a different character, with each of the characters cycling through each of the registers.

Acceptance is a harmonically ambiguous chorale that primarily uses the 5-11 set class. Though initially consonant, there is a lingering sense of dissonance that slowly makes itself present. Even in the finality of acceptance, grief lives on.