Tag Archives: video

“Blood Garnet”, performed by Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra

Happy fall! The blog has been quiet but lots of things are currently in the works for the 2018-2019 season.

I’d love to share a recent performance of my first orchestral work, “Blood Garnet”. I wrote this in between my undergraduate and graduate degrees, and while I am still happy with many of the musical ideas, the orchestration itself is very “First Piece for Orchestra”. There’s nothing like hearing your own human-played orchestral music to show you exactly what did and didn’t work, technically speaking!

Regardless, Thomas Cunningham and the orchestra did a lovely job with the piece, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear my own orchestral music live.

“I Take These Pills” Premiere

I’ve just posted a new video on my YouTube channel – the premiere of “I Take These Pills”, commissioned and performed by the Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra. This piece is part of the 2016 leg of their nonet commissioning project: “9×9: New Music”.

From the program notes: “Whenever I get to a certain point in building a familiar to close relationship with someone, the topic inevitably surfaces. ‘Well, I have chronic anxiety and depression, so I take these pills to regulate my day-to-day existence in the world.” After Tom Cunningham, (UPCO director and the piece’s commissioner) told me that the commission theme centered around one’s personal take on the concept of “adequacy”, I immediately thought of my daily interaction with depression and anxiety, and by proxy, the medication that is supposed to help.

“I take these pills” is such a direct statement, and one which I say with intent but without drama, without stigma. I find it quite satisfying to express such a significant, yet ordinary part of my life through a piece of my own music.”