amok (wind ensemble) by Bekah Simms

Performed by the University of Toronto Wind Ensemble in MacMillan Theatre at the University of Toronto, March 2016.

“amok as a syndrome” is very tangibly related to Romitelli’s 1991 piece “amok koma” – its opening is almost identical. However, seeing as the original piece is scored for a small chamber ensemble with electronics, this piece exists in a very different sonic landscape, sharing signs (symptoms) with the original that correlate to a shared musical influence (condition). Romitelli’s piece shared a name with a 1980s punk album, so it only makes sense that my title would also integrate the name of the original. Interestingly, “to run amok” is a common expression that actually refers to behaviour that has been classified as a “culture-specific explosive behavioral disorder” related to psychopathic violence.

Musically, the piece alternates between grungy, chaotic sections and more subdued, lyrical moments. The opening figure produces the majority of the material, especially the intervallic content, with minor thirds and seconds playing a major role. Ultimately, “amok as a syndrome” is an homage, but not one of the sentimental variety – it’s a grateful thank you to the current musical landscape and composers like Romitelli, where dozens of wild influences coalesce into a singular output…a condition whose manifestation is strongly shaped by cultural factors…