Michael Stubblefield - "The Sludge Dirge"
Michael Stubblefield - The Sludge Dirge
The Sludge Dirge expands naturally, culminating with unison marching thuds before relaxing into a tearful lament.
Michael Stubblefield's The Sludge Dirge, winner of the ISAM 2023 first prize in composition, juxtaposes slow-moving lyrical lines and open vibrating space with thunderous bass drum booms, anxiety inducing runs and extended techniques. Stubblefield conducted the premiere of his chamber work for bass clarinet, violin, cello, and percussion earlier this August at the Landesakademie Ochsenhausen in Germany during the ISAM summer academy.
Stubblefield opens The Sludge Dirge with bells tolling on a perfect fourth, before introducing a low, decadent chromatic half-step in the cello. The two intervals show up again and again throughout the piece, often creating various wails and sounds associated with crying. The somber beginning sets the perfect dramatic scene for the aptly titled 'dirge' to follow.
Interestingly, Stubblefield finds a way to use traditionally bad sounding extended techniques both naturally and melodically. The combination of wild screams coming from the cello and runs in the bass clarinet give a sense of musical structure to the additional noise. The Sludge Dirge expands naturally in terms of form, culminating with unison marching thuds before relaxing into a tearful lament.
watch the world premiere performance here
© 2023 Brutal New Music Reviews
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