on blue dot - concert piece for John Adams' 'Short Ride in a Fast Machine'

 

on blue dot

John Adams' ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’

 

glimmer beginning

trumpets up, announce

brass top, triangle

 

the frantic breath, collaboration

every engine is

 

drop up down gears unknown before

 

pass the old familiar

though never at such pace as this

weather goes by breakneck

 

the bow goes through the strings the wood

 

there’s a metronome rise in pitch

 

put out wings

to populate a frenzy

 

do it all in your head

 

blink and as feet can fly

or to the boards

gizmo’s gone

the way of all

 

like a cool breeze

 

just a fanfare really

down here

that’s us

 

we’ll have arrived