Meditation for Electronic Valve Instrument and Chamber Jazz Ensemble

This composition for a jazz chamber group, is presented in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. The chamber group consists of flute, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, electronic piano, guitar, upright bass, jazz drum kit and a standard string quartet. The author is the intended soloist and plays the EVI, (Electronic Valve Instrument) a MIDI wind controller designed for a trumpet player. The work is based on a meditation technique devised by the author; a combination of techniques used in traditional yoga schools. The music is a referential interpretation and not meant to evoke a meditative experience nor is it meditation music. This is a jazz-inflected composition that uses a mix of prescriptive and aleatoric elements. The solo part is mostly improvised and uses some of the advanced features of the EVI. It is possible however, that the piece could be performed by some other wind instrument even if that instrument did not have the unusual range or flexibility of the EVI. The challenge for the soloist is to negotiate sections of the music where the background is indeterminate i.e., chosen by the supporting ensemble.