Adages was composed in 2010 for Marcy and Kenyon Wilson for a
premiere at the 2011 Southeast Region Tuba/Euphonium Conference in
Chattanooga, TN. The composer selected six adages to represent using
music.
I. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. " The
interpretation of this adage is that one always wants what someone else
has instead of accepting ones own uniqueness. During the movement, the
tuba wants to be like the violin and imitates the violins melody. When
the violin changes to pizzicato, the tuba eventually realizes it cant
be a violin and states a bold melody of its own. The movement ends with
the violin playing its melody alone with pauses between the phrases as
if looking over its shoulder wondering where the tuba is.
II. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. " This setting represents a
growing love despite the emptiness of being apart. Violin double stops,
using the hollow intervals of fourths and fifths to represent longing,
occur at the beginning and end. A short love duet between the two
instruments occurs in the middle.
III. Time flies when you are having fun. " A rollicking six-eight
meter is used to represent a childrens game of tag. There is a lot of
alternation of short phrases as if one instrument is trying to tag the
other and the other is trying to avoid being tagged. The violin double
stops and short accented tuba notes representing taunting.
IV. Every cloud has a silver lining. " This movement is a prayer-like
setting with alternation of minor and major harmonies representing the
cloud and the silver lining respectively.
V. He who hesitates is lost. " This movement is very rhythmic and
syncopated with the two instruments alternating phrases in the manner of
a call and response. It calls for split-second precision between the
performers therefore representing the adage.
VI. A rolling stone gathers no moss. " The last movement is a
perpetual motion in a rolling six-eight meter. The musical ideas are
very chromatic with the exception of main theme which first appears in
the tuba and returns in either instrument, both instruments together, or
both instruments in imitation. Towards the end, there are a few brief
pauses and low accented tuba notes as a life of activity has a few bumps
along the way.