Symphony No. 5: "Westward Journey"

Abstract

This document contains the score to Symphony No. 5: Westward Journey, an original composition for symphony orchestra consisting of four movements, lasting approximately twenty-eight minutes. This work is rooted in the Western European symphonic tradition utilizing a four-movement structure, which I chose in order to carry forward the symphonic tradition, as well as to allow each movement to feature different aspects of the entirety of my compositional catalogue. The lyricism and limited tonality of Movement II stem from my earliest compositions; Movement IV uses my typical strategy of re-contextualizing all previously introduced melodic and motivic material; Movement III alludes to much of my chamber music in tone and formal structure, while Movement I focuses on the re-imagining of compositional influences that have permeated my music for several years. The piece follows a traditional pattern as to form, opening with a sonata-allegro first movement, followed by a slower theme-and-variations movement, then a slow minuet-like dance movement, finally a rondo, with extended opening material. The score to the symphony is accompanied by an analytical document.