Convective Motives by Michael Varner

This percussion sextet written predominantly in 6/4 phrases in alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8. The 6/4 motivic development blends and creates a rhythmic tension against the 2-3-2-2-3 beaming. A rhythmic motif of sixteenth notes on the “two” groupings drive the piece toward mysterious or aggressive versions of the motif. Intertwined are micro and macro rhythmic development so that often 5/8-7/8 will be overlaid with 5/16-7/16 or 5/4-7/4 developments.