The Third Degree

for guitar duet (2015)

duration: 3'

 

program note

I wrote The Third Degree in May 2015 to be performed in concert at Melba Hall at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. The ‘third degree’ is generally used as a euphemism for torture or the inflicting of pain. To represent this, I used dissonance and aggressive chords throughout the piece, showing that I intend the piece to be played with an air of violence despite moments of beauty. The Third Degree is in three sections – beginning and ending with fast movement and a slower, more atmospheric section in between.