Embedded Files
In Sleep (Oboe, Bass Trombone, Fixed Media))
In Sleep (Oboe, Bass Trombone, Fixed Media))
Program Notes
In Sleep has been a sort of backwards journey in writing. Having dived into it head-first knowing nothing about what I was doing beyond that it was to be for oboe and bass trombone, it wrote itself from within the depths of my consciousness throughout its process of creation. The title stems from my reflection and interpretation of the final product: a vast, dreamlike landscape that morphs and changes the longer you are within it. The eerie quality of the music evokes peace and uncertainty, stasis and spiral. Much is left unanswered as the music fades away, in likeness to that of a waking dream.
In Sleep: https://on.soundcloud.com/YHvua
Bramblewood (Wind Band)
Bramblewood (Wind Band)
Program Notes
Bramblewood is an exploration into the unknown. It sets the scene with an unsettling ambience that seems to flow across the band, invoking imagery of a dark, overgrown forest. A lone soul pushed into the thicket, exploring in solitude through the solo saxophone. The piece carries on following the lone adventurer through fear and discovery as the music ebbs and flows in intensity.
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/1m94NfFc6xaphSy6A
Solis Requies (Oboe and Piano)
Solis Requies (Oboe and Piano)
Program Notes
Inspired by a photograph taken at Acadia National Park, Solis Requies uses the rich colors of the oboe and piano to emulate the brilliance of the sun setting and the chill of night's onset. The work emulates the approach of nightfall by slowly descending through different keys from its home in D Major. From the brilliance of C# and B Major to the muted-ness of F# and E minor, is a haunting and beautiful homage to an everyday wonder.
Soundcloud: Solis Requies MIDI Demo
YouTube: Solis Requies MIDI Demo
Starscapes (Trumpet, ASL Performer, Electronics)
Starscapes (Trumpet, ASL Performer, Electronics)
Program Notes
Starscapes began as an idea: a multisensory work for trumpet that combines audio and visuals into an immersive environment. Commissioned by Lauren Cancio, the goal was to create music that is accessible for a wider audience. Starscapes features electronics by producer Ezra Tirado, creating a vast, Interstellar-esque soundscape of synths and bass, transporting the audience away from this world. This piece is intended to be performed with an ASL performer, creating a visual story for the audience, cementing this piece as a one-of-a-kind experience.
Soundcloud: Starscapes MIDI Demo
Starscapes Extended Notes
Starscapes Extended Notes
Note from the Producer:
For me, this piece began with just the vague idea of “trumpet and electronics”, with Lauren wanting to combine mine and Kevin’s skills to create something interesting; little did I know at the time how truly great this piece would become. My production started when Kevin sent me the chord progressions, and told me “Go crazy.” I was given a blank check in terms of what I could do instrumental-wise, the only guideline I was given was for it to be synth-heavy; so I got to work. The final track came about from a very long back-and-forth between Kevin and I, with me periodically sending him a draft of the instrumental, followed by him sending a draft of the trumpet part and notes of what I can add or change to complement the trumpet.
The electronics of Starscapes take inspiration from several different places, including 80s new wave music, modern ambient music, and science-fiction film scores. While the concept of space wasn't originally on my mind when producing, with those inspirations guiding my way I completely see how Kevin was inspired to draw from the ideas of space and the cosmos in his writing. The final instrumental contains over 40 individual tracks containing several different synthesizers, arpeggios, choir sounds, percussion, and other sound effects to create a truly ever-evolving soundscape.
Note from the Composer:
Writing this piece has been a multi-year journey for me, dating back to spring of my sophomore year in college. Working with the concept of a multi-sensory piece, I wrote a pair of chord progressions that don’t progress forward so much as outward, setting the foundation for Ezra to create the work’s eventual space vibes. After receiving the electronic backing track, I began to work on the trumpet part, taking a very motific approach to this work. The primary theme is heavily inspired by ambient video game music and seeks to enhance the vastness of a space one is experiencing. The secondary idea consists of bell tones that appear throughout the piece, which represent bursts of color within the infinite darkness.
Starscapes’ seeks to explore the beauty of space in a linear fashion, encountering larger and grander objects and colors each minute. My original approach was aimless and wandering, with the trumpet part drifting alongside the electronic track, as if floating through space. Only the first theme was present, but appeared infrequently. This left the listener with some of the color, but very little of the intended awe. After a number of revisions, the trumpet now takes a more assertive role in the narrative, expanding in range and virtuosity as the listener delves farther and faster into the great unknown.
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