Ritual of the Dawn (1984, rev. 1998), a chamber work for six players. was originally written in 1984 at the MacDowell Colony, and extensively revised and premiered in its new version by the Syracuse Society of New Music in 1998.  Its philosophical idea is the distillation of a template ritualistic ceremony depicting the dawn of the new millennium.  A number of interpretations suggest themselves as one follows the progress of ever-changing textures, from dreamlike to dramatic to eventual dissolution and serenity.   These interpretations may suggest the universality of music that enables the bridging of centuries, as well as the timelessness of our existence on this earth, and, despite all our “civilized” efforts to the contrary, its eventual return eons from now to its natural state of equilibrium.  In this philosophical idea, McLean was heavily influenced by author H.G. Wells in his “Time Machine.”

The unique feature of Ritual of the Dawn is its atmosphere, which is both rhythmically pulsative and evocative.  Although tightly-written in the sense that it will sound the same at each performance, it is also extraordinarily free in its notational procedures, which often include bits of phrases in boxes, the performer to choose the specific order at each performance.  The evocative yet rhythmically-pulsative nature of Ritual of the Dawn is largely produced through the rhythmic technique of several performers playing pulsative material simultaneously but not coordinating beats in any way -- as if several tape recorders were playing at the same time but not in sync.  The harmonic structure is chosen carefully to accomodate this technique.  This means that each sonority must be neutral enough to withstand infinite variations of the order of the short melodic phrases that are randomly played together by the ensemble, but at the same time be imaginitive enough to evoke the special atmosphere of the work.  At important structural points in the work, such as the beginning and ending of sections, the conductor does provide hand cues to coordinate the ensemble.  A few major structural turning points are also in strict meter.

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Released on Composers Recordings, Inc. in 6/2000. CRI CD 846. Available on New World Records. Recorded on Innova in 2011 on McLean’s “Soundworlds” album as part of a NYFA grant.

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The free materials provided here (complete parts and score) will enable a performer to realize a complete performance. All I ask is that you send me a program as attachment at pbmclean2@gmail.com.
 

Ritual of the Dawn is © & ℗ 1982 Barton McLean