The Cave- in m. 44, is this a sudden tempo change from the 124 marcato section, or should it ritard smoothly?
Steve: Hmmm. The Tempo SHIFT was designed in the Music to occur at beat 3 of measure 44. How would one know this? Well… Rhythmically, I’ve set this up so that there is a cessation of motion. The conductor could take his/her time to set up a very dramatic moment. I do this often in many pieces. Hit beat three… then let the Timpani and Snare Swell and Roar from that moment into the “Back to Darkness” section of measure 46. I call this device in my writing an “Escape Hatch”. I formally CALL it an ESCAPE HATCH in the piece DAVID. This is defined as being a device, usually rhythmic in nature, which allows the conductor to shift, hold, create drama… as felt.
