On the very last day of my Masters course at the Indian Statistical Institute, some of my curious friends asked me: "now that your exams are over for a long time, why don't you write a special piece commemorating the occasion?" My initial idea was to write a fanfare for three spatially separated trumpets, in the late serial style of Stravinsky (a sort of convocation piece). As I was sketching the work, the idea developed into something less solemn and more substantial: three fanfares for three spatially separated clarinets. To add to the quirkiness of the setting, I decided to quote some popular pieces of music at climactic points in the work. (here are some hints: Dua Lipa and George Gershwin!)
Furthermore, the idea of having the three clarinets play music in different tempi was an exciting one. I drew a 'university analogy' while planning this out: with different streams of study in a single institution, a university embodies a heterogeneous mélange of thoughts, characters and individuals. However, the common spirit of learning, application and striving to create a positive change in the world is what brings the disparity together. This provided a forward momentum for the composition of the work.
The work is in three sections:
I. Episodi [0:00]
II. Riflessione [2:34]
III. Scorrevolezza [4:30]
There are isolated sections in which the three clarinets perform in unison. Otherwise, they perform in a 4:5:6 tempo ratio throughout. The second clarinet is at the center, the first (doubling E flat clarinet) on its right and the third (doubling bass clarinet) on its left. Given that exact coordination of tempi might be difficult under the circumstances of spatialization, the performers are advised to come up with a visual 'cueing' system for alignment purposes. Some suggestions for this have been made in the score.