BLINK
“Puckett is adept at moving between extreme points on the tonal spectrum for expressive effect”
Opera News
wind ensemble
7 minutes
commissioned by Eric Wilson and the Abilene Christian University Wind Ensemble
SCORING
Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
B-flat Clarinets I-II-III [at least 2 on a part]
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trumpet in B-flat I-II-III
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 4 players
Piano
PROGRAM NOTE
Have you ever had a feeling that something good was about to happen? Perhaps just an inkling? Have you ever met someone
and known instantly that you were going to become thick as thieves?
In the fall of 2005, I read Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink. Blink is a book about rapid cognition. The following is from Gladwell’s website:
“When you meet someone for the first time, or walk into a house you are thinking of buying, or read the first few sentences of a book, your mind takes about two seconds to jump to a series of conclusions. Well, “Blink” is a book about those two seconds, because I think those instant conclusions that we reach are really powerful and really important and, occasionally, really good.”
I found this concept inspiring and led to the writing of my work for wind band by the same name. My work features quick changes of both texture and tempo (blink!) while systematically exploring a single motive. The boisterous opening of the piece rigorously works this motive (in both transparent and opaque ways) and climaxes in giving way to a surprisingly quiet and ethereal ending.