Uploaded September 2014 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Paraprosdokian no. 3, Colorshift
by Luis Ramirez
A paraprosdokian is a sentence in which the last part of it is unexpected, causing the reader to reinterpret the intention of the whole. Due to its surprising nature it is regularly used for comical purposes – phrases like "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening; but this was not it." by Groucho Marx, or "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" by Oscar Wilde, are classic examples that represent its witty and satirical nature. The essence of this linguistic wordplay is used as a grounding structure for this work.
3. Colorshift - A color-shift is a common effect in video editing where the red, green, and blue color channels of a frame get shifted apart from each other, which is analogous to the construction of this work. Most of this piece is written using a single, long melodic line based only on seven pitches. However, instead of a monotonous sound, the line fluctuates at different rates between each instrument, phasing back and forth from unison to a kaleidoscopic complexity. Despite being only one line, these shifts result in a much more rhythmical and groovy sound than you would expect. Therein lies the paraprosdokian effect.
Commissioned by David Wilson for the AugustFest in Brandon, MB.
Premiered on August 12th, 2014.
By Luis Ramirez
Clarinet, Chris Byman
Violin, Gillian Carrabré
Cello, Ariel Carrabré
Piano, Luis Ramirez
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
Brandon University
Brandon, MB, Canada.
Paraprosdokian no. 3, Colorshift
by Luis Ramirez
A paraprosdokian is a sentence in which the last part of it is unexpected, causing the reader to reinterpret the intention of the whole. Due to its surprising nature it is regularly used for comical purposes – phrases like "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening; but this was not it." by Groucho Marx, or "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" by Oscar Wilde, are classic examples that represent its witty and satirical nature. The essence of this linguistic wordplay is used as a grounding structure for this work.
3. Colorshift - A color-shift is a common effect in video editing where the red, green, and blue color channels of a frame get shifted apart from each other, which is analogous to the construction of this work. Most of this piece is written using a single, long melodic line based only on seven pitches. However, instead of a monotonous sound, the line fluctuates at different rates between each instrument, phasing back and forth from unison to a kaleidoscopic complexity. Despite being only one line, these shifts result in a much more rhythmical and groovy sound than you would expect. Therein lies the paraprosdokian effect.
Commissioned by David Wilson for the AugustFest in Brandon, MB.
Premiered on August 12th, 2014.
By Luis Ramirez
Clarinet, Chris Byman
Violin, Gillian Carrabré
Cello, Ariel Carrabré
Piano, Luis Ramirez
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
Brandon University
Brandon, MB, Canada.
