Tight Weave

A seven-minute concert band work that thinks in patterns, polyrhythms, and the plurality of voices.

Tight Weave was inspired by the elaborate woven fabrics of West Africa — particularly the Kente cloth of Ghana, where different patterns emerge depending on your perspective, your knowledge of the symbolic motifs, and the skill of the designer. Composer Bill Alves draws a direct parallel to the polyrhythmic music of the region, where multiple viewpoints coexist within an overarching unity of spirit.

In the piece, that plurality takes shape through a kaleidoscope of pentatonic modes and shifting instrumental roles. Alves was also shaped by his study with master drummer Kobla Ladzekpo, whose teaching — "In Africa, all drums talk" — runs through the work's DNA. Each voice has its own story; each is an irreplaceable member of the tightly-woven community of sound.

• Seven minutes of rhythmically complex, texturally rich writing
• Polyrhythmic structure rooted in West African musical traditions
• Shifting pentatonic modes create a constantly evolving sonic landscape
• Percussion-forward — every drum has a voice and a role
• Substantial programming choice for advanced ensembles seeking meaningful new music