blimunda songs (2017) for pierrot ensemble
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blimunda songs is a set of 4 miniatures for pierrot ensemble. While each of these pieces evokes a different mood and character, they are also unified by subtle recurring details: gestures and harmonies that reemerge in each movement, fragments of melodic material that persistently reappear. Although this is not a programmatic work by any means, the title references José Saramago’s novel Baltasar and Blimunda, which contrasts harsh realism with wonder and suffering with humor. I attempted to capture these juxtapositions in the four movements of this piece. The first movement places long sustained chords side by side with quick descending gestures; the second is a dance-like scherzo; the third uses fragmented constellations of sound against breathy backdrop; and the fourth literally and figuratively echoes the first three movements.
blimunda songs is scored for flute (doubling piccolo), clarinet in Bb, violin, cello, percussion, and piano, and was written as a part of Atlantic Music Festival in 2017. |
The AMF Contemporary Ensembles premieres blimunda songs July 2017
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selected performances
March 2020 — Paul Novak's Senior Recital, conducted by Joshua Hong, Rice University, Houston, TX
March 2019 — Shepherd School of Music Composition Undergrad Recital, Rice University, Houston, TX
March 2019 — Faculty of Webster University, Community Music School of Webster University, St. Louis, MO
September 2018 — SCI National Conference, members of IU New Music Ensemble, Bloomington, IN
February 2018 — Ensemble Ibis, Frost School of Music, Miami, FL
July 2017 — AMF Contemporary Ensemble, Atlantic Music Festival, Waterville, ME (premiere)
selected honors
Webster University 2018 Young Composer’s Competition -- First Prize
SCI 2018 National Conference Call for Scores — Chosen Submission
Frost 2018 Composition Competition — First Prize
March 2020 — Paul Novak's Senior Recital, conducted by Joshua Hong, Rice University, Houston, TX
March 2019 — Shepherd School of Music Composition Undergrad Recital, Rice University, Houston, TX
March 2019 — Faculty of Webster University, Community Music School of Webster University, St. Louis, MO
September 2018 — SCI National Conference, members of IU New Music Ensemble, Bloomington, IN
February 2018 — Ensemble Ibis, Frost School of Music, Miami, FL
July 2017 — AMF Contemporary Ensemble, Atlantic Music Festival, Waterville, ME (premiere)
selected honors
Webster University 2018 Young Composer’s Competition -- First Prize
SCI 2018 National Conference Call for Scores — Chosen Submission
Frost 2018 Composition Competition — First Prize
