This piece may be considered the third in a series of companion pieces I have written, to be programmed with Beethoven’s Septet, Schubert’s Octet, or Stravinsky’s Septet. My instrumentation does not exactly match theirs, but is close enough that a concert promoter might achieve some economies.
Oliver Knussen composed his Elegiac Arabesques in memory of Andrzej Panufnik, and I quote Olly’s music at the beginning of mine. Thus my work is an elegy for Knussen and, indirectly, an elegy for Panufnik. There is a second Knussen quotation in the middle of my score, during which the wind players are asked to stand as a sign of respect.
The first third of the piece could be viewed as "clarinet vs. everybody". The flute and bassoon cooperate with the strings but three times the clarinet interrupts brashly, each time accelerating the tempo. The third interruption marks the clarinet's overpowering of the others but at the same time its decision to retire while at its peak.
The central third of the piece features a long bassoon solo, followed by a Knussen quotation played by string trio, followed by a resumption of the bassoon solo, now calmer.
The final third of the piece sees the octet divided into two halves. The first violin joins the winds in one choir, while the other four strings form a second choir. These two choirs alternate music which is mostly peaceful. Even the clarinet contributes a solo which is marked "soothing".