Mumford: 'Yes wending IS written for the violist Wendy Richman and much of the harmonic material IS based on her name'

[Jeffrey Mumford; Photo: Al Fuchs, courtesy Oberlin Conservatory of Music]

On Feb. 18, 2010 AfriClassical posted: “Violist Eliesha Nelson in Jeffrey Mumford's 'wending,' Cleveland Composers Guild Feb. 28.” Yesterday we asked Jeffrey Mumford this question: “I notice wending is performed on an Albany CD, the promise of the far horizon, by Wendy Richman, viola. Is the work's title related to the performer's first name?” AfriClassical is grateful to the composer for his prompt reply:

“Great to hear from you! Yes wending IS written for the violist Wendy Richman and much of the harmonic material IS based on her name (see below)":

"program note

wending is a musical portrait and a celebration of the phenomenal and visionary talents of violist Wendy Richman

Much of the basic harmonic material is based on the letters in her name (ie. wEnDy riCHmAn).

As part of the scenario of the work’s ongoing development, slower moving material is often interrupted by sharply accented chords or single notes which in and of themselves, establish an independent layer of activity unto itself. In addition, more rapidly moving passages reveal themselves periodically and eventually transform into tremolos at which point aspects of the more ethereal material from the opening reassert themselves.

The work is prevailingly rhapsodic and is in one movement
THANKS! J”

Eliesha Nelson Cleveland Composers Guild Jeffrey Mumford wending For Solo Viola Wendy Richman harmonic material IS based on her name