Locrian Riffs by Brett Abigaña

Locrian Riffs By Brett Abigaña

Grade Level: 4.5
Length: 5.5 minutes

Locrian Riffs is an homage to the women collectively known as “Rosie the Riveter.” Joe tells me that when they played the piece at the premiere, there were several of those women in the audience. The piece is, as the title suggests, primarily in the Locrian mode, but draws on bebop lines and riffs in all parts to create a driving aggregate sound which is meant to be a factory coming to life. The factory breaks down twice (hence the trombone sirens), but manages to push through to the end. The piece also draws heavily on palindromic forms.