Program Notes:

The word ‘Compulsion’ has two meanings: the action of forcing or being forced to do something, or the uncontrollable urge to behave in a certain way. When a person is forced to believe in something for a long period of time, it gradually becomes attached to the individual. Their actions and behaviours are then correspondent to their believes which were initially forced onto them. It can become extremely difficult to break away from these uncontrollable behaviours since their believes urge them to do so. 

In this composition, a three-note motive first introduced by the trombones at the opening, is constantly repeated and manipulated throughout the piece. The entire structure of this piece is based on the development of this three-note motive. The purpose of this excessive motivic development is to capture the idea of ‘compulsion’: first repeatedly forcing a certain belief into an individual, which then becomes nearly impossible to break away from.