David Wilborn

Excursions

The work musically portrays a journey to various sites in South America and adjacent Caribbean Islands. 1.Vistas - The opening movement sets up a visual overview of the expansive South American landscape. The movement combines subtle jazz episodes with an Andean-like folk melody as well as dramatic rhythmic passages. 2.Prayers and Ritual - This movement sets the scene of a Catholic Church preparing to celebrate the Eucharist. It opens with call and response chants between priests and participants. The lively middle section serves as a musical backdrop as parishioners partake in the Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the ceremony, celebrates offer the final prayers, and the parishioners respond by singing 'Amen'. 3.Carnival - The final movement sets the scene of a traditional celebration that's widely held throughout South America and the Caribbean. This movement is characterised by it's fast rhythms, strident dissonance, and Latin dance beat (a Brazilian Samba). Other features in this movement are the tense polyrhythmic passages that are used to make reference to African cultural influences. David Wilborn