MUSIC
Short Chant is an intimate piece which mimics the soundscape of ancient chants. Most of the piece revolves around the trombone quartet moving as one large voice with minimal contrasting parts. The atmosphere created is open and fragile, focusing on the silence and echoes in-between each entrance by the ensemble. The composition stays true to the opening melody - a chant which is repeated and varied as the music develops.
Turbulence is an aviator's tale about a flight which takes a treacherous turn as storm clouds take over the sky. Fast winds push the plane back and forth as the pilot fights for control. There is a break in the clouds in the middle of the piece where safety is uncertain but for the time being there is calm and serenity. The piece ends with the return of the violent clouds as the pilot is forced to make a quick and drastic landing!
Three Concepts musically represents three distinct ideas in life which have been discussed since the dawn of mankind. Although these concepts are highly thought about topics by serious thinkers, I took a less serious route and wanted to describe these concepts almost as characters.
Morality takes a joyful spin on the dark subject matter by focusing on the funnier sides of what people deem right and wrong in society. The Greater Unknown seeks to portray all aspects of life which remain mysteries - the afterlife, life in the cosmos, the meaning of life. Heroism details the struggle of a hero finding the balance between good and evil through conflict.
An American Af(fair) tells a story about a typical American family going to the local fair. This piece explores the ambience of open America and the cacophony of sound which comes with the fair; different sounds include passing crowds of people, vendors, calliope music, carnival games, and marching bands
Shenanigans is a playful piece which highlights the funny and unique sounds of the wind quintet. The piece has two distinct sections which contrast in style and tempo. The first section is about the mischievous behavior children get up to when playing. This could be set on a playground or even in the living room of a busy household. The second section is melancholic and can be seen as the grown-up children looking back with nostalgic lenses. The piece ends with the return of the uplifting first section.
Lament for Those Destined is about a soldier who performs the ultimate sacrifice - dying for their homeland. This music showcases their final moments before entering into battle. Throughout the piece, they mentally accept the possibility of their future demise. Eventually, the soldier comes to terms with their fate and finds peace in it. This composition honors all the men and woman who when faced with death in war challenged it for the greater good of millions.
When I first started composing this piece, I wanted to make use of the strings ability to sustain sound. This turned into creating a slow, atmospheric work which is solemn yet beautiful. I attribute the feeling I get from the music to the feeling I get when I’m in deep-thought. The thoughts could be passing or they could be daydreams. The matter could be serious or it could be silly. The ideas behind the thought aren’t important, it is about the feeling one gets from being alone with your own head voice and the surrounding universe.