“Reconciling Duality” explores various incarnations of contrasting elements, such as emotions (anger/frustration vs. vulnerability), textures (aggressively loud tremolo chords vs. isolated and delicate notes), and even the notation of the score itself (traditional notation vs. free rhythm/meter vs. improvisation). When confronted with opposing ideas one often attempts to find a balance between them; sometimes this is achieved through compromise, or assimilation, but occasionally one is required to acknowledge that a blending is not possible - that the elements must remain separate entities, coexisting in a perpetual truce, while hopefully eventually discovering the beauty of such diversity.
Reconciling Duality was written for the 2016 Class Axe Workshop, produced by the Canadian Music Centre and the Guitar Society of Toronto. It was premiered by Adam Batstone on December 15, 2016 at the CMC in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
