The Masque of the Red Death by Brett Abi...

By Brett Abigaña

The Masque of the Red Death was written for the Woodland High School Wind Ensemble, and was premiered in Carnegie Hall in 2010. The work is approximately 8 minutes long and is for band and recorded electronics. The piece is based on the famous story of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe, in which a masquerade ball is repeatedly interrupted by ominous bells which lead to the appearance of an apparition dressed as the Red Death, a fatal epidemic which has ravaged the countryside. The piece presents as a slightly misguided waltz which can never really reach its zenith and is constantly interrupted by strange and disturbing sounds. The electronics in this piece are sampled from various sounds and words recorded by the ensemble for whom the work was written, and subsequently manipulated, affected, and distorted by the composer.

Duration: 8 minutes
Grade Level: 4