Reepus II in A minor a.k.a.UNFINISHED SYMPHONY (excerpts)
About this Piece
Composed: 1999-2001
Orchestration: MCs, 4 singers, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 4 saxophones (flute doubles), bassoon, bass clarinet/contrabass clarinet, pedal harp, piano, 2 guitars, electric bass, percussion, drum kit, turntables, MPC, and strings that can dance (4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos)
The original idea for the piece was to integrate a foundation of North American, South American, and Cuban dance rhythms with the harmonic language of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Public Enemy, Digital Underground, and Stravinsky. Based on a song written in 1994 called "Reap What U Sow," the first version debuted with the Denver, Colorado-based band Psychodelic Zombiez. Since then, the piece has transmogrified into this lengthy discourse, and still has a third movement in sketch form.
-- Double G