percussion

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Figurings

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Figurings takes inspiration from character-based written languages. The individual characters have their own pronunciations and several meanings, yet they combine to form nuanced words within a grammatical structure. To write the piece, I designed a pictographic notation of various multi-faceted musical figures. The music “figures out” these sonic characters as one might learn a sentence in a foreign language. Each syllable is pronounced and then combines with another to form musical words. As the piece progresses, stretched and sustained words contrast metered iterations, all in counterpoint with inevitable silences.

A special thanks to clarinetist Calvin Falwell and the McCormick Percussion Group under the direction of Kevin Von Kampen for preparing and premiering this unconventional work.

Premiered October 25, 2023 at the University of South Florida.

In the Mind of Energy

“This division of energy into actual and potential seems to me to be defective. It prevents the direct comprehension in the mind of energy as being motion and nothing else; it leaves unexplained how a body perfectly at rest can come to move; and further implies the dissipation of energy . . . in a new phase, for, if all the actual energy in the universe were to become potential, all the real and positive motions which constitute life might indefinitely cease.”

- George Iles, The Constancy of Motion, Popular Science Monthly, Volume 10, December 1876

Written for and premiered by Transient Canvas at the ALBA Music Festival.

Interested in performing In the Mind of Energy?

Perusal Score

In the Mind of Energy- Score and Parts

Performances:

Stone in Hand

for oboe, clarinet, and chimes

This work was commissioned by clarinetist Julia Lougheed, who premiered the work. It addresses the process of overcoming anger and hate to find feelings of peace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Scenarios

 I.        Let him first cast a stone (John 8:2-11) 
II.       I, the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men (Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10)
 III.    And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind (Alma 7:11) 
IV.      Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all (Matthew 18:23-35)
 V.       But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2)
 VI.     Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)
 VII.     Yea, come unto Christ and be perfected in him (Moroni 10:32)

Interested in Performing Stone in Hand?

Perusal Score

Stone in Hand- Score and Parts

Performances:

Lakewind

Four Chicago Perspectives based on scenic views of the Windy City. Artist Tony Parra made awesome visual artwork based on the scenic photography providing another point of view to each movement.

Interested in performing Lakewind?

Contact me for more information.

Performances:

Performed by Rachel Miles (flute), Brian Woodbury (trombone), Joseph Woodward (cello), and Alexandra Brown (marimba). 

Cleansing

"And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; [t]hen shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop[.] And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water[.] As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water[.] And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field." (Leviticus 14:3-7)

"But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them." (Alma 25:15)

Interested in performing Cleansing?

Contact me for more information.

Performances:

  • November 12, 2014 [Premiere], Group for New Music: Student Edition, Nick Ayala, Jesse Quebbeman-Turley.

Romance Sonámbulo

A setting of the text of the same name by Federico García Lorca, Romance Sonambulo explores the relationships of words and ideas within the poet's bleak yet beautiful text.  Lorca contrasts the joys of nature to the persecutions of the Gypsies shortly before the Spanish Civil War.  For this and other poems seeking social change, Lorca was later assassinated. 

Interested in performing Romance Sonámbulo?

Contact me for more information.

Performances:

  • March 14, 2014 [Premiere], Group for New Music: Student Edition, Monica Bennett, Zane Harker, Charlotte Heiner, Gatelyn Gentry, TJ Smith, Hunter Montgomery, Hannah Cope, Anna Dunford. 
  • March 14, 2015, To Another Place and Time, Monica Bennett, Zane Harker, Charlotte Heiner, Leslie Sampson, Brad Sampson, Aaron Clark, Lizzie Tutt, Alexandra Brown.
  • April 9th, 2016, Denney, Findley, Taylor, Ryan Gardner, Elena Blyskal, Andrew Eshbach, Kevin Gregory, Josh Schwartz, Dana Kaufman, Javier Chacon, Ryan Hecker.