[Ben Phelps looks at a crane]

The Angels

Portraits on Life in the City - String Quartet no. 1

For Trumpet and String Quartet

2012. 30 minutes if performed in complete form.

The movements of The Angels can be played in any order and combination. Not all orders and combinations are created equal. The one presented here is the composer's. Different orderings can convey different meanings and emotions, and thus can be tailored to fit the performers' mood and experiences. This should be taken into account when planning the performance.

The movements are conceived as tangents to life in in Los Angeles, California, where they were composed. The motivic interrelation between the movements is highly complex. Quotations abound, try and find them all! Many questions arise. Answers are fleeting.

In ten movements:
This is the first movement
Spaghetti Western
Noir
La Fiesta
The Suburbs
Waiting Tables
There are no stars
Carmageddon
Mulholland Dr.
Ghosts and Instagrams

View a sample of the score.

To order parts and scores, please contact me.