Ballantine - A Three Piece Suit

From the composer: Casual dress has all but obliterated the once ubiquitous three-piece suit. Yet, in its day, a neatly tailored ensemble of trousers, vest and jacket was all a man needed to convey his essence to the world around him. Scherzo: Linear patterns and diatonic harmonies are used to suggest 'the suit trousers' and carry the energy and motion of a man with a purpose. His quickstep path along a busy city sidewalk sometimes requires him to skip around a puddle. But his direction is singular and well measured. He knows where he's headed and he travels with the confidence of one deserving a razor-sharp crease. Espressivo: Resonant chords and chromatic harmonies are used to suggest 'the vest' and reveal the garment most close to the heart, the emotional centre of our man about town. Is he a philanthropist or a philosopher? Is he troubled, or simply richly-centered, choosing to keep his feelings and his thoughts to himself? Allegro: Serial patterns and angular harmonies are used to