Simple Words - Choir [9.2025]
Recently in my choral work, I’ve been interested in the idea of using minimal words in order to create maximum impact. For this piece, I settled on the phrase “I love you” because its a phrase everyone knows, and its a particularly vulnerable (quasi-sacred) phrase for me. The entire piece is a gradual opening of the mouth, and forming of the vowels, as if the singers are figuring out how to say the words for the first time. It explores the cathartic, yet anxious release of tension felt when these words are spoken into reality.
Coming Soon…
Performance time - c. 4.5’
Super-charge - orch. Band [9.2025]
Upon hearing the chamber winds version of Super-charge, I couldn’t help but think that some of the ideas are bigger than the group it was originally composed for. The special effects, percussive elements, whirling woodwinds, it all seemed to call for more. So, this led me to orchestrate this piece for band, giving me the chance to explore many more kinds of percussive and brassy sounds (my favorite). It’s not easy, but nothing good in life is easy…so give it a shot!
Performance time: c. 5.5’
Jawbreaker - String Quintet [10.2025]
This slightly theatrical string quintet places the spotlight on the cello player. Their voice acts as a sort of protagonist of the music, thus they are faced with adversity in the form of “noise”. The other players act as an outside oppressive force working against, infecting, screaming at the cello voice. It is an expression of how trauma can affect one’s behavior, especially while trying to fight against it. Traumatic thoughts hit you like a sucker-punch, breaking your proverbial jaw, and leaving you vulnerable. It draws from both grounded harmonic progressions and avant-garde noise music to create a thrilling cognitive dissonance.
Coming Soon…
Performance time - c. 4’