NACWPI and CMS Conference 2020
by Josh Watkins

On October 17, 2020 Duo Extreme presented at the joint National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) and College Music Society (CMS) conference.  This conference was a mixture of university professors and colligate musicians, both performers and musicologists.  This presentation was to further propel instrumental music while maintaining a strong base in history.  Three works were briefly discussed, performed and followed by a question answer session: Karakurenai, Interlocking Colors, and Calypso Suite

Karakurenai (Japanese for 'foreign crimson') by Andy Akiho was originally written for solo prepared steelpan during a visit to Rochester, New York in June 2007. However, this piece can be performed by any combination of instruments.

The steelpan is prepared with poster tack placed on four pitches, C, G, D and A, which lowers the pitch one semitone and mutes the timbre. The ostinato is played with the cardboard tube of a dry cleaner coat hanger, while the melody is produced with a wooden chopstick.

Interlocking Colors (2019) by Bill Pfaff, commissioned in 2019 by Duo Extreme, divides into two sections. The opening is lyrical, with both instruments trading melodic material. This contrasts with a series of chorale statements embellished with quotes of the earlier lyrical material. These sections explore the timbral possibilities of the ensemble. In the opening, rhythmic and melodic unisons offer wide timbral variations. In the chorale statements, clarinet long tones are surrounded by steelpan chords.

Calypso Suite (2019) is a selection of traditional calypsos transcribed from historic recordings by Simon Browne and arranged for clarinet and steelpan by Joshua Watkins. This suite was inspired by the combination "old meets new" concept of Duo Extreme’s instrumentation. Clarinet was often found in the traditional groups that performed calypso, while the steelpan was an invention of the 20^th century that became the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Old Lady, Old Lady, Yaraba Shango and Sly Mongoose, which comprise the suite, are popular calypsos.

Click here to download 2020 NACWPI CMS National Conference