Once the Search

Once the search is an 18-minute work in seven movements for solo viola, accompanied by soprano, vibraphone and piano. The first, third, fifth and seventh movements are an ongoing duet between the viola and soprano. Here, each line derives from a single melody, unfolding at different rates through an additive pattern. The second movement ("Vestige") and sixth movement ("Four More Years") are viola/piano duets, while the central movement ("Forcefield") is a slow setting for viola and vibes.

Once the search was written for David Medine, and premiered 19 March 2005 by Medine, along with Daisy Press, soprano, and Kevin Sims, vibes.

The text, which slowly unfolds throughout the piece, is taken from an Oblique Strategy (1975), created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt:

Once the search is in progress, something will be found.