About the Work

Alea is proud to share Ross James Carey's Melody, in versions for clarinet/piano or bass clarinet/piano. The work originated in the late 1980's, when the composer was a student at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The clarinet version (2015) stems from this original work, while the bass clarinet version (2015) is based on a 2012 arrangement for cello and piano. Melody features melodic phrases presented over a series of harmonically non-directional, sustained chords. Repetitive, additive cycles of chords underpin the melodic material. A brief coda ends the work unambiguously in E minor. Duration: ca. 5 minutes.

Extended-range instrument NOT required. Score: 11 pages, spiral bound; Part: 2 pages, single sheet.

About the Composer

Ross James Carey is a composer and pianist. Born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand in 1969, he currently teaches at Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. As both a composer and piano soloist and collaborative artist Ross has been active in a variety of settings, from international festivals and conferences to regional and community events, mainly in Australasia and Asia. His compositions draw upon a variety of sources reflecting his background as a classically trained musician active in this region. Ross' compositions have been presented at seven Asian Composers' League Festivals and recordings of his music include those by pianist Yuji Takahashi, guitarist Kazuhito Yamashita, Gamelan Padhang Moncar (New Zealand) and the Black Cedar Trio (California). As a pianist Ross is particularly interested in presenting his own works and those of composers from the wider Asia-Pacific region, and has given recitals at the 'International Congress of Women in Music', Beijing (2008) and 'East meets west' conference at the Hong Kong Baptist University (2009), among others.