Vision Quest (2002) for Double Bass and Piano 3. Ritual Dance and Visitation (7:06)
VISION QUEST was written during the summer of 2002 as a work for myself to play, as I had not written a work for bass in many years. Many of my works are taken from an improvisation to a greater or lesser degree. This work is developed from a keyboard improvisation, however, it bears little resemblance to the original as the transformation has been extensive. The original improvisation served as more of a springboard for the inspiration and the development of the piece. The term "vision quest" is usually associated with Shamanism, and refers to a period of solitary fasting and chanting in the wilderness in search of a spiritually defining vision. The work, however, is not particularly sectarian or partial to any particular religious tradition. The work is meant to represent an ecstatic religious experience in a more abstract sense. Neither is the music particularly Native American in character, though the ending "vision" section does bare a passing resemblance to the music associated with traditional Peyote ceremonies.
VISION QUEST was written during the summer of 2002 as a work for myself to play, as I had not written a work for bass in many years.
Many of my works are taken from an improvisation to a greater or lesser degree. This work is developed from a keyboard improvisation, however, it bears little resemblance to the original as the transformation has been extensive. The original improvisation served as more of a springboard for the inspiration and the development of the piece.
The term "vision quest" is usually associated with Shamanism, and refers to a period of solitary fasting and chanting in the wilderness in search of a spiritually defining vision. The work, however, is not particularly sectarian or partial to any particular religious tradition. The work is meant to represent an ecstatic religious experience in a more abstract sense. Neither is the music particularly Native American in character, though the ending "vision" section does bare a passing resemblance to the music associated with traditional Peyote ceremonies.