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Dérive 1 was written in 1984 for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, vibraphone and piano and was first performed by the London Sinfonietta conducted by Oliver Knussen.It is an elegant, shimmering and vibrating eight minute work which explores harmony and texture from a chordal starting point using material which "derives" from three earlier pieces, Répons (1980), Messagesquisse (1976) and Éclat (1965).
Divided into two clear sections, static harmonies are constantly ornamented and decorated with flurries, trills and grace notes which scurry in hushed excitement from one instrument to another following a path mapped out by chords in the piano.
Dérive: bars 1 - 9
In section one of Derive the static chords seemlessly drift by, draped in the elaborately decorated colours of the accompanying instruments, whilst in the concluding section, long melodic phrases gradually emerge from the texture before the tempo gradually slows and chords solidify to reach the relaxed and settled harmonic stability of the opening.
Dérive: bars 41 - 46
All audio examples are provided with kind permission by Nimbus Records: CD NI5167 London Sinfonietta/George Benjamin
introduction : intro.to Dérive : a guide to Dérive : harmony : texture : tempo : influences : words : definitions