Connect All. We All Connect.

Description

Audio

Duration

8 min.

Text

Barry Duncan

Program Notes

Are we individual actors, alone together? Or are we bound by our common humanity? Connect All. We All Connect. explores the interconnectedness of people in today’s world. At times fragile and questioning, at times confident and affirming, the piece ultimately sounds a message that we are our best selves when we embrace heartfelt connection.

Master Palindromist Barry Duncan’s text unfolds through a series of five letter-by-letter palindromes (e.g. Sum: It Saved. Am I made vast? I’m us.) interspersed with a longer word-by-word palindrome (e.g. Connect all. We All Connect.). The music interplays with the text by incorporating palindromic elements of melody, harmony and form. These mirror effects serve as a metaphor for human connection, inspired by the image of two people looking in opposite directions to face each other. As the music passes its midpoint, sections reverse, illuminating new angles on familiar tones.