Gregory Smith

Photo by rr jones

A MAJOR-minor Mystery is an exploration of music's major and minor tonalities disguised as a "who-dunnit." Chapter by page turning chapter, the cunning and comical major-minor sleuth, Inspector Beckensteiner, investigates a concert where major suddenly became minor. The inspector suspects everyone, including the audience. The culprit is revealed in a surprising reenactment of the ill-fated concert.

A MAJOR-minor Mystery was commissioned and premiered by Marin Alsop at the Cabrillo Music Festival in 1997,

Orchestration: 3(pic),2(eh),2,2   4,3,3,1   Timp +2, Harp, Strings, Narrator (acting skills recommended).

Timing: 22 minutes

Excerpt from A MAJOR-minor Mystery