Spine by Michael Laurello

with Kevin Zetina and Greg Doscher, percussion
Victor Labozetta, piano
A single line runs through most of the piece, and virtually all of the musical material is derived from it. This meta-line (performed by Percussion 1) serves as the “spine” of the music, both in structural terms (backbone), but also with respect to the line’s perceived control over the direction and progression of the music (central nervous system). The material played by the supporting members of the quartet colors and punctuates the main line. Over the course of the work, players drift in and out of agreement with one another, and occasionally the primary line loses its unique identity within the texture of the ensemble. I tried to impart an almost biological sense to the way motives grow, attempting to balance intuitive, almost improvisatory, types of development with more structured patterns and processes. Spine is dedicated to the players of the Yale Percussion Group for their unwavering support.
-Michael Laurello