Last month, having completed Deep Breath, and renewing my acquaintance with Matthew Marsit, I felt the time was right to bring The Nerves to completion. It was rather a daring personal challenge, to see if I could finish the movement before I need to clear my composition desk for the external challenge which arrives Monday; but I also felt that it would be good preparation, to write as quickly as I might, yet without yielding anything in terms of musical quality.
As mentioned in this blog, Gentle Reader, I knew not to expect to make musical progress within the score, either Thursday or Friday evening. But I did not down tools: I made many sketches, both verbal and musical.
In the event, I generated more material than I needed for the movement’s completion; but that is (we might say) good practice, the best practice. I gave myself rich store of musical stuff, and thus enjoyed the luxury of making do with the choicest modules/ideas. Everything was fresh in my mind as I worked for some hours today to bring the movement to a conclusion; I went back to make some minor adjustments; inserted another measure (the present m.320) to remedy my feeling that the ending was just a shade too abrupt. And I do believe I am entirely pleased with the result.
Triad concert tomorrow, so that will (quite rightly) occupy me completely once church duties are done.
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