Joseph Schwantner

Written for marimbist Leigh Howard Stevens, Velocities is characterized by a continuously unfolding texture of rapid gestures within a framework of continually shifting meters. The first major division opens with a series of aggressive articulations of a repeating harmonic idea followed by wave-like ostinati figures presented in seven-eight meter. The second principal section continues with ever-persistent sixteenth notes framed in triple meter. The last major section re-engages the primary musical elements presented and developed earlier and leads to a forceful and spirited conclusion.