Leshy (2021)
Performed by Arx Duo: Nonoka Mizukami and Garrett Arney, percussion
Recorded on February 11th at Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall, University of Miami.
Program Note: Leshy was inspired by the myths about the Leshy or Leshi, spirits that protect the forest. A Leshy is humanoid in shape, can assume any likeness of any person or creature, and can change in size and height at will. From Slavic mythology, Leshy is the spirit that rules over the forest and hunting. They are sometimes portrayed with horns and surrounded by packs of wolves and bears. In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a husband, wife, and children. They are known by some to have the propensity to lead travelers astray and abduct children (which he shares with Chore, the "Black One"), which would lead some to believe they are an evil entity. However, it’s also known to have a more neutral disposition towards humans, dependent on the attitudes and behaviors of an individual or local population towards the forest. Leshy would rescue those who were cursed by their relatives, particularly by parents, and bring them to the forest. Some would therefore describe him as more of a temperamental being, like a fairy.
Performed by Easthama Percussion Duo.
Senescence: the condition or process of deterioration with age.
• loss of a cell's power of division and growth resulting a leaf changing colors.
The result of this composition is to embody this color transition by sonic representation. The cycle is symbolized by a leaf's life, decay, death, and rebirth following the seasons, as environmental conditions intermingle with the sonic structures.
Clarinet Quartet
Performers:
Nicole Murray, flute
Chester Howard, clarinet
Shelby Dems, violin
Craig Mehler, cello
Lindsey Eastham, percussion
Emmanuel Berrido, piano
Keehun Nam, conductor
A “Black Rogue” refers to a theory in astrophysics in which a black hole is swallowed by another black hole causing a fight for gravitational superiority which propels them through space. I first read about this idea back in 2010, and thought it would be a cool idea to apply aspects of this phenomenon into a musical representation. I wanted a piece that warped time but still maintained a groove, to feature elements of sound that would start out fragmented, then swirl together as distance motifs glue together to make a whole new object and lastly to be infused with large amounts of counterpoint.
Since the time I read about this theoretical phenomenon and its premier, NASA had discovered what they believe to be this event in galaxy 3C 186 on March 26, 2017. The event occurred when two galaxies collided having their centers, which were made up of unequal sized super-massive black holes came into close proximity of one another. After getting caught their gravitational fields entangled, an eventual collision paired with their differential mass, resulted in one of the black hole being jettisoned 35,000 light years away from the center of its home galaxy. The energy equivalent of this event is roughly equal to 100 million supernovas blowing up simultaneously. Which all seems strangely fitting now.
Performers:
Nicole Murray, flute
Chester Howard, clarinet
Shelby Dems, violin
Craig Mehler, cello
Lindsey Eastham, percussion
Emmanuel Berrido, piano
Keehun Nam, conductor
An American Dream (2018) 9 min. – flute, clarinet, vibraphone, percussion, violin, cello
Performed by the International Chamber Ensemble (ICE) at Brevard Summer Institute.
Trio for clarinet, harp, and percussion.
I. Hanalia: The Goddess Wakes
II. Arborea: Celestial Shed
III. Erevana Ileser´ia: Land of Trickery
How 2 Shopping Cart - 7 min. – percussion trio for amplified prepared shopping cart and feedback
Gradient - 20 min.-Baritone/mezzo-soprano, clarinet, vibraphone, percussion, violin, cello
Large Chamber - flute, 2 clarinets / bass clarinet, marimba, vibraphone, piano, electric organ, violin, viola, cello, 5- string electric bass,
Trio for alto sax, viola, and cello.
Duo for alto sax and piano.