- "At the still point of the turning world.
- Neither flesh nor fleshless;
- Neither from nor towards;
- at the still point, there the dance is."
from Burnt Norton, "Four Quartets" by T. S. Eliot
Inspired by this quotation from T. S. Eliot, At the Still Point is a fast and exuberant dance which tries to create a paradoxical atmosphere of furious activity where time itself seems to stand still. The 7/8 time signature gives an added rhythmic impetus to this piece which is in three sections. In the outer sections, the relentless drive of the viola part, ever-whirling and almost frantic, is contrasted with the rhythmic piano part whose bass line features long pedal points.
While the harmonies do change over the long pedal points in each section, the piece remains strongly fixed to its basic (harmonic) roots. The character of the middle section is quite different to that of the outer sections. It is less frantic and features long melodic lines in the viola part.
The "turning world" is thus exemplified by the use of simple ternary form; the two hectic outer sections (extrovert) surround a somewhat more rhapsodic central section (introvert). Ultimately, the piece ends abruptly, giving a feeling of "neither from nor towards"---at the "still point" there is only the dance.
--- John Peterson
Printable sample of the score: At the Still Point
The Fellowship of Australian Composers is planning to release a CD recording of At the Still Point. See the HMP Links page. Duration: ca. 4' 30".