And Whether Pigs Have Wings (2016)
for soprano, flute, piccolo, 2 B♭ clarinets (+ bass), soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, 2 C trumpets, 2 horns in F, 2 tenor trombones, tuba, 2 percussion (1 = drum kit), bayan/accordion, piano, electric piano, and amplified strings
Duration: 10’
Commissioned by RKST21 (Orkest de Ereprijs and Het Gelders Orket) and first performed by Caroline Cartens and RKST21, conducted by Arjan Tien
Version 2.0 (2019)
for soprano, flute/piccolo, oboe, 2 B♭ clarinets (+ bass), bassoon, horn in F, C trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, keyboard, 2 percussion (1 = drum kit), strings (4.3.3.3.2)
Adapted for and first performed by Jessica Jones and Nu Deco Ensemble, conducted by Jacomo Bairos
Winner of Nu Deco Ensemble 2018 Call for Scores
Program Note
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
And Whether Pigs Have Wings draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s poem ‘The Walrus and The Carpenter’, and is the third (and final) work in a series for Dutch ensemble Orkest de Ereprijs. The piece sees the walrus and carpenter take a walk along a briny beach in the middle of the night. They complain about the sand, and behave very badly and rudely towards a bunch of oysters (who haven’t any feet). The oysters are invited to lunch, and the walrus and carpenter end up eating their guests, with butter and bread, and pepper and vinegar. . .
Performances
17 August 2023, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Melbourne Recital Centre - Australian Premiere
7 November 2019, Alicia Hurtado and Peabody Studio Orchestra, conducted by Jacomo Bairos, Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland
16 February 2019, Jessica Jones and Nu Deco Ensemble, conducted by Jacomo Bairos, The Light Box, Miami, Florida
15 February 2019, Jessica Jones and Nu Deco Ensemble, conducted by Jacomo Bairos, The Light Box, Miami, Florida
14 February 2019, Jessica Jones and Nu Deco Ensemble, conducted by Jacomo Bairos, The Light Box, Miami, Florida - US Premiere
12 February 2017, Caroline Cartens and RKST21 (Orkest de Ereprijs + Het Gelders Orkest), Apeldoorn Townhall, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
11 February 2017, Caroline Cartens and RKST21 (Orkest de Ereprijs + Het Gelders Orkest), Concertzall ArtEZ, Arnhem, The Netherlands
14 February 2016, Caroline Cartens and RKST21 (Orkest de Ereprijs + Het Gelders Orkest), 22nd Young Composers Meeting, Opening Concert, City Hall, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
13 February 2016, Caroline Cartens and RKST21 (Orkest de Ereprijs + Het Gelders Orkest), Musis sacrum, Arnhem, The Netherlands, world premiere