Hemispheres for Wind Ensemble by Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis Page: 4
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Throughout the work, emphasis is placed on rhythms grouped in threes. The number
three, according to the composer, is a mystical or spiritual number that represents, in
Hemispheres, mind-body-spirit. These three elements are integrated to make man whole as the
piece is viewed as a whole. For Turrin, it is a conscious decision on his part to have a spiritual
connection in all movements. He said, "Although conveying spiritual thoughts through music is
difficult, I kept them in my mind as I was composing."5
An avid reader, Turrin was influenced by the concept of creation as it related to diverse
cultures:
While composing, I began to explore the concept of the hemisphere and
how individual parts come together forming a larger more perfect whole.
The idea of a sphere, a circle, the earth, evolution, the cycle, the journey,
and returning to the origin seem to take hold. I thought how every culture
has beliefs about creation and that somehow they are all based on a similar
idea - that of returning to the origin, the full circle. Through my research
on this subject I became most interested in three particular stories of
creation all from very diverse cultures: The western (1. Genesis),
American Indian (2. Earth Canto), and Hindu (3. Rajas). These stories
became the motivation for Hemispheres in that music itself also takes on a
cyclical form with reoccurring themes throughout and short motifs that
develop into larger groups.6
As Turrin was thinking about creation, the tragedies of September 11, 2001 occurred.
Much as it did for many Americans, this terrible day had an enormous impact on Turrin. Living
near New York City, he experienced much of the tragedy firsthand. While Turrin had been
thinking of various cultures as unique and separate, they now became related and bonded
together during this tragedy, which he viewed with a renewed sense of meaning:
Much of the music was complete by the time the horrific events of September 11,
2001 had occurred. Although there was more composing to be done, these events
5 Phone interview with Joseph Turrin, April 30, 2004.
6 Joseph Turrin, Hemispheres (Greensboro, NC: C. Alan Publications, 2002), 1.4
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deAlbuquerque, Joan. Hemispheres for Wind Ensemble by Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis, dissertation, August 2005; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4886/m1/11/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .