Alex Shapiro, composer: Slip

Slip

(Violin and Harpsichord).
Total duration ca. 9 minutes (2001)
Published by Activist Music (ASCAP).
Commissioned in 2001 by violinist Robin Lorentz.
One movement work. 14 pages, 8.5" x 11".

Premiered and recorded on November 2, 2003 in Santa Fe, New Mexico by Robin Lorentz, violin and Kathleen McIntosh, harpsichord.

Recorded January 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. by Robin Lorentz, violin and Kathleen McIntosh, harpsichord.

Recorded in 2006 in Rome, Italy by Antonio D'Andrea, violin and Maria Clotilde Sieni, harpsichord.

Audio clip performed by Robin Lorentz, violin and Kathleen McIntosh, harpsichord.

Also available as:

Slipping

(Violin, Harpsichord, Percussion).
Total duration ca. 9 minutes (2006)
Published by Activist Music (ASCAP).
Adapted from "Slip," commissioned in 2001 by violinist Robin Lorentz.
One movement work. 20 pages, 8.5" x 11".

Recorded January 4, 2006 and July 11 in Los Angeles, CA. by Robin Lorentz, violin, Kathy McIntosh, harpsichord, and Dan Morris, percussion.

Slip is featured on the 2007 DC Records CD, La Discordantia, recorded by Antonio D'Andrea and Maria Clotilde Sieni. Click CD for more info.

Slipping is featured on the 2007 Innova Recordings CD, Notes from the Kelp (innova 683). Click CD for more info.

Slip is a 2008
International AliÈnor Harpsichord Composition Competition
award winner.

View pages from the score to Slip
Listen to an audio clip of Slip for violin and harpsichord
See a list of performers
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Listen to an audio clip of Slipping for violin, harpsichord and percussion
Purchase the scores Score and part for Slip available from Activist Music for $20.00. Score and part for Slipping available from Activist Music for $35.00.

Slip was commissioned by Robin Lorentz as a gift for her friend and partner in musical crimes, Kathleen McIntosh. Both women are intrepid and superb musicians who persist in the marvelous delusion that the 18th century's winning combo of harpsichord and violin deserves a repertoire from the 21st, as well. Far be it from me to argue such an inspired position, and so, knowing that my dear comrade Robin can make a violin sing beautifully in every style imaginable, I came up with the idea of giving Kathy everything and anything to play, with the one exception of the baroque styles to which she was so often tethered. I attempted to convert the harpsichord into many other plectrum instruments, including (and not limited to, as will be heard) dulcimer, koto, mandolin, guitar and bouzouki. Throw in some Cuban montuno rhythms for a little variety, and suddenly it's a world tour for anyone with attention deficit disorder.

This bit of whimsy was written with the intent of giving the two of them something that would be unexpected at the close of their otherwise respectable concerts. Quite ironically, the first few lighthearted measures were written on September 10th, 2001. After the horrors of the following day, Robin called me up later that week and made it clear that given the circumstances, it would be absolutely fine with her if I felt like writing a very serious piece. Thinking about it for a moment, I replied that no, I wanted to continue in this upbeat direction, perhaps as a bizarre antidote for my grief. During the rest of that month, there were times when the television glared silently in the corner of my studio with its constant images of devastation, as I irreconcilably wrote these silly passages. It may have been my way of declaring that to best honor those who have lost their lives, the rest of us should live ours to the fullest extent, for whatever time we're given. Just as these musical styles slip suddenly from one to another, life can slip from one reality to the next. As Ram Dass said, be here now...

Slip, page 1

Slip, page 7