The Long Form

 

A few of my albums contain some rather long compositions.  For example, In Visible Ascent consists of only two pieces.  My solo album Skyfields was an hour-long composition in five movements.

Of late, I've been thinking about extended-form solo compositions.  For example, a single piece that's 30 to 40 minutes in length.  Unlike Skyfields, I don't mean a long-form piece in multiple movements; I mean a long-form piece that's a single composition having no movements.

One of my favorite symphonic composers is Gustav Mahler.  Mahler was the master of the long form.  Of his nine completed symphonies, number 4 is the shortest with an average performance time of approximately 45 minutes.  Most of his symphonies average around 90 minutes.  His third symphony was the largest and longest piece with a performance time approaching two hours.  It's not a matter of long-form works for the sake of long-form works.  Mahler required a large canvas for his works.  It's just how he heard and conceived of his compositions.  It's notable that the first page of the score of the third symphony isn't marked as the first movement; instead, it's marked as the first division (Erste Abteilung).  

I'm starting to internally hear longer-form solo compositions.  

Since June 2025, I've been in the studio recording solo works.  None of them are what I'd term long-form pieces.  However, upcoming solo recording sessions will likely turn toward the long form.  

As I begin to construct these pieces, I find that I'm considering instrument changes within a piece.  I've not done that on recordings, but I think this concept would fit; perhaps even be required by, the long forms. 

I don't know why the change, other than evolution and growth.  I think it's going to be a challenge, and I look forward to it.

 -kk 

 

  Gustav Mahler (1907)