DESCRIPTION: "Journeys" by: Patrick Bailey, published by Bachovich, premiered by the Temple University Percussion Ensemble conducted by Patrick Bailey.
Written in Spring of 2009 by Patrick Bailey, Journeys is a piece that musically chronicles a three part journey. Although there are no pauses between movements, you can hear a clear separation in the ideas. The first movement, titled Loss, depicts a sense of loss or departure. Hymnal in composition with percussive effects, it focuses on the beauty of what is being lost, and so is wrapped in a major tonality. The second movement, titled War, shows the struggle to cope with this loss. The timpani kicks off the movement and immediately draws attention to the odd meter, which captures the uncertainty of this emotion. The chime enters towards the end of the movement, establishing a more stable two beat feel with the heart beat of the bass drum. This starts the third movement, which is titled Triumph. Esoteric sounds surrounding the repetitive pattern in the bells and vibes helps to add to the sense of lifting from the earlier depiction of war. Elevating emotionally, it climaxes after a key change and eventually calms back down to return the listener to a sense of tranquility: being at peace with the loss that was depicted in the first movement.
