STATIONS: 1 2 3 4 5

 

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STATION

The Ramble

James Naigus & Drew Phillips, Soar and Groove

I. Soar 
​II. Groove​

The Composers write: ​"The Cor Moto Horn Duo ran a live contest during the spring of 2018 in which a lucky viewer during a live streamed pre-recital talk at the University of Central Missouri would be chosen to have an original piece written and dedicated to them. Illiana Martinez from the University of North Texas was the winner, so we decided we would write a two movement unaccompanied piece for her. James wrote the "Soar" and Drew wrote the "Groove," and both are extremely distinct, not only because of styles of the contrasting tempi and athleticism needed to play, but also because of the differences in the own sounds each of us loves to use."

James Naigus (Georgia), https://jamesnaigus.com/about.html
Drew Phillips (Virginia), https://www.drewphillipshorn.com/biography 

Josh Gottry, Light on the Ice

Josh Gottry writes: "Whether you take your morning drink of choice with two shots or one, extra foam or none, and prefer a small, medium, or extra large, there is a simple and satisfying pleasure in that first sip of a refreshing beverage to start the day. Light on the Ice weaves through multiple themes and trades melodic and accompanimental roles between the two instruments, the most important element is the continuity and comfort of the groove. As long as that feels good for both performers and listeners, the rest will go down quite nicely!"
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Josh Gottry (Arizona), https://gottrypercussion.com/ 

Anthony Green, Scintillation 1

Anthony Green writes: ​"The first in my “Scintillation” series, Scintillation I is a light, quasi-improvisatory duo that explores syncopated rhythms (inspired by calypso) combined with a singing melodic line. In the exploration of singing and gestures on top of a steady, at-times-jagged, syncopated accompaniment, the two elements eventually find a synchronization that brings this journey to its finale."
​
Anthony Green (Germany), https://www.anthonyrgreen.com/bio

Michael Keegan, Two Pieces for Clarinet and Horn 

I. Ballad
​II. Scherzo

Michael Keegan writes: "The first piece, Ballad, opens up with a rhythmic figure stated in clarinet and horn states a melody with the same rhythmic figure. A dialogue between horn and clarinet is stated with a modulation to E Major at the B Section. In the Scherzo movement, I was inspired by the Trio in A Minor for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, Op.114. Scherzo opens up with a forward moving introduction in clarinet later stated by horn, which leads to an interplay of melodies between horn and clarinet in E Major." 

Michael Keegan (Wisconsin), https://stores.imaginemusicpublishing.com/mike-keegan/​ 

Jorge Montilla, Clarimba

Jorge Montilla writes: "Clarimba (2013) is a short piece for clarinet and marimba based on the Venezuelan genre of “joropo,” a brisk dance in three beats. Joropo is Venezuela’s most representative kind of popular music. Although the clarinet might seem dominant, both instruments participate equally. Their dialogue is evident, but the clarinet acts like a popular singer whereas the marimba suggests, at times, the sounds and idioms of Caribbean steel drums." 

Jorge Montilla (Iowa), http://www.jorgemontilla.com/home.html 

 

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STATIONS: 1 2 3 4 5

STATION

Nadeau Garden of Inspiration

Susan Botti, Two Italian Folk Songs

I. Guarda che bel serèn
II. El me murus el sta de la del sere 

Susan Botti writes: ​"These two Italian songs from Northern Italy celebrate the character of the people from this area of the world -expressed through language and music full of poetic imagery, a sly sense of humor, and a joyful sensuality. I hope that my creative deviations from the originals only enhance those qualities."
​​
Susan Botti (New York), https://www.susanbotti.com/bio 

Jessie Montgomery, Rhapsody No. 2

Jessie Montgomery writes: “Rhapsody No. 2 is the second of a set of 6 intended solo violin works, each of which will be dedicated to a different contemporary violinist, and inspired by an historical composer. This virtuosic piece was commissioned by and written for composer and violinist Michi Wiancko and is inspired in part by Béla Bartók.” 
​​
Jessie Montgomery (New York), https://www.jessiemontgomery.com/biography

Susan Kander, A Garden's Time Piece

I. Today's the day 
II. April Rain 
III. There are glories 
IV. The end of summer 
V. There is a madness 
VI. A feather pierces the snow 
VII. Oak leaves sit in snow 
VIII. Today's the day (reprise) 

Susan Kander writes: “A Garden’s Time Piece was commissioned for artist/poet Leslie Laskey’s ninetieth birthday.  Using two voices, soprano and violin, I really enjoyed a streamlined, elemental approach to setting his simple but evocative lines of life and love across time and space.  The voice of the violin sings the underlying emotional complexity, the subtext, of the soprano’s deceptively simple lines.” 

Susan Kander (New York), http://susankander.net/biography/

 

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STATIONS: 1 2 3 4 5

STATION

Limonaia

Oliver Caplan, Illuminated by the Light of Two Ships Passing in the Night

Oliver Caplan writes: "The ephemeral has many forms: two strangers passing in the night; sun-dappled Monarchs migrating south; and all too familiar to us artists, fleeting bursts of inspiration evanescing like shooting stars into the darkness. This piece is an ode to moments of illumination. The title draws from a work of conceptual art by Lawrence Weiner (b. 1942). Weiner started as a sculptor, but in 1968 began to explore language as a new medium for presenting his ideas, creating installation art that consisted solely of words imprinted on white walls. Without binding his ideas to concrete physical form, much is left to the imagination of the beholder." 
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Oliver Caplan (Massachusetts), https://www.olivercaplan.com/bio.html. 

Joe Jaxson, The Eleventh Hour

Joe Jaxson writes: "Written for two of my friends who graduated with me, I wrote this with them in mind. Something impactful, yet accessible. The clock keeps ticking but it's that penultimate hour, the Eleventh Hour, that we hold dear to ourselves until the clock resets and it's a whole new day, a whole new chapter for us to experience.” 

Joe Jaxson (Virginia), https://www.joejaxsoncomposer.com/bio.html.

Mari Kotskyy, Reminiscence

Mari Kotskyy writes:  “This piece is about her emotions of when she immigrated to New York from her hometown, Hokkaido, an island in northernmost Japan. When she just came to New York, she felt homesick and she couldn’t stop thinking about her family, friends and the beautiful nature back home in Hokkaido. However, little by little, she was getting used to New York life, and her sentimental feelings have decreased." 
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Mari Kotsktyy (New York), https://www.marikotskyy.com/about.html 

Stacy Garrop, Beacon of the Bay

Stacy Garrop writes: "When the Newport Music Festival commissioned me, I looked for a topic that would celebrate an aspect of the Newport community. I became fascinated with the lighthouse on the property of Castle Hill Inn, located at Narragansett Bay. In Beacon of the Bay, we first hear the lighthouse’s characteristic as its ruby light blinks on and off. As the piece progresses, we hear waves playfully lapping around its base; this is followed by a violent storm. But the steadfast lighthouse holds firm to the rocks. The music quiets back down to its simple theme, with yachts sailing by as the piece concludes."

Stacy Garrop (Illinois), https://www.garrop.com/About/Biography/ 

Oliver Caplan, Fanfare for the Importance of Imagination​

Oliver Caplan writes: ​"Everything great carries fingerprints of imagination; for with imagination we can envision beyond what rational thought allows. This fanfare’s title draws from a speech by J.K. Rowling, whose improbable success is an inspiration for imagination if there ever were one. I composed this music partially as a personal anthem to keep my chin up on doubtful days, and as an ode to everyone else out there who has ever excitedly shared their dreams only to see someone roll their eyes in return."
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Oliver Caplan (Massachusetts), https://www.olivercaplan.com/bio.html. 

Carson Coonman, Springburst​

Carson Coonman writes: "Springburst (2007) for piano trio is dedicated to composer Gwyneth Walker on her 60th birthday. It was composed for “Gwyneth Walker: A Celebration of the Music Makers”, a birthday music festival at Chandler Hall, Braintree, Vermont in October 2007, where it was performed by Trio Tulsa. The work is a brief and vibrant work with distinctly “American” characteristics. The music reflects Walker’s energetic personal and musical personality." 

Carson Coonman (Massachusetts), https://carsoncooman.com/biography/ 

Gwyneth Walker, ​A Vision of Hills​

Gwyneth Walker writes: "A Vision of Hills is an extended, one-movement musical exploration of the traditional Irish hymn tune, "Be Thou, My Vision." The reference to hills comes from the view of the hilly Vermont countryside as seen from the composer's studio. As the fullness of morning arrives, the piano descends into mid-range, and the melody is presented in the strings. The final statement of the theme is placed in a 2/2 meter to emphasize the triumphant nature of the hymn tune. This is intended to reflect the strength of faith, and of the hills." 

Gwyneth Walker (Connecticut), https://www.gwynethwalker.com/index.html  

 

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STATIONS: 1 2 3 4 5

STATION 

​Lawn Garden

Derrick Skye, Crossing

I. Speech 
II. Laughter 
​III. Song

Derrick Skye writes: “Crossing is a piece that explores the musical elements of vocal and gestural communication, inspired by the melodic shapes often found in Balkan folk music. The first movement uses fluctuating and overlapping patterns in its melody resembling speech in a 4/4 meter. The second movement includes asymmetrical fragmented phrases at a fast tempo with leaps, resembling laughter, in an 11 beat cycle. The third movement uses repeated patterns of shifting meters (5/16, 7/16, 6/16, 8/16) to create a folk melody that is intuitive, as if being sung and improvised.”

Derrick Skye (California), https://www.derrickskye.com/about/.

Quinn Mason, Nhemamusasa 

Quinn Mason writes: "Nhemamusasa is a traditional African mbira tune which was arranged for the unusual yet sonically interesting combination of flute, viola and harp (a combination made popular by Debussy)." 
​
Quinn Mason (Texas), https://www.masonianmusic.com/about​  

Evan Fein, Midnight on the Ohio

Evan Fein writes: “Midnight on the Ohio was composed in 2006, just a few months before I left my native Cleveland for New York City for graduate studies. As I prepared myself for the new metropolitan chapter of my life, my mind often wandered back to the summers I spent as a teenager with my aunt in a small town on the Ohio River. The days were the sorts of long, languid, and surreptitiously melancholy ones one generally encounters only in Faulkner, and the nights were filled with dreams of steamboats and the ghosts of long-forgotten melodies gliding across the inky waters.” 
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Evan Fein (New York), https://www.evanfein.com/about​ 

Miguel del Aguila, Submerged

Miguel del Aguila writes: "Submerged is based on Alfonsina Storni's romantic, surrealist poem "Yo en el fondo del mar." On the surface, both the poem and music seem innocent and light-hearted, but one feels differently when the author’s fascination with the sea, and her later suicide by drowning in it, are taken into consideration. With six harp f chords, the piece “falls” deep underwater: this slow middle section is mysterious, intimate and magical. It recreates the poem's isolated submerged world where fish with flowers, octopus and sirens dance a Vidalita while birds chirp happily far above water." 

Miguel del Aguila (Washington), https://migueldelaguila.com/about/  

 

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STATIONS: 1 2 3 4 5

STATION

Secret Garden 

Wendell Rosa, Duo for Double Bass and Violin "Ascension of a Forgotten Battle" 

Wendell Rosa writes: “The composition idea firstly came to me through a string crossing technical exercise. After that what gave life to the music was a philosophical thought about the ascension of a forgotten battle, which happens inside of the character himself.” 
​​
Wendell Rosa (Georgia),  https://dbbpublications.gumroad.com/l/battle_duo. ​

Andrea Clearfield, A Dream of Trees

I. A dream of trees
II. The tree house 
III. Vastness of pines 
IV. The blessing tree

Andrea Clearfield writes: “The four movements are inspired by reflections on trees by three poets and a visual artist: Mary Oliver, Rumi, Pablo Neruda and Melissa Harris respectively. Although not programmatic, each movement reveals its own musical “story” – of longing, wonder, whimsy, journey, mystery, intimacy. A true duo, the two instruments sing with lyrical melodies, contrast, weave and merge together to create different textural and emotional spaces. The set takes its name from Mary Oliver’s poignant and beautiful poem on dreams of trees, life and art.”
​
Andrea Clearfield (Philadelphia), http://www.andreaclearfield.com/bio/short-bio/

Andrea Clearfield, ​Three Songs for Violin and Double Bass

I. Body of a woman 
II. The light wraps you
III. Every day you play 

Andrea Clearfield writes: “Inspired by three sensual love poems of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, this set of three musical tableaux is loosely based on the images and energy emanating from Neruda’s passionate and evocative texts. The double bass and oboe represented not only two different instrumental families and musical registers, but also contrasting instrumental shapes, colors and sizes. These complementary opposites resonate with elements of Neruda’s love poetry, which plays on images of dark and light, night and day, masculine and feminine.” 

Andrea Clearfield (Philadelphia), http://www.andreaclearfield.com/bio/short-bio/

Piotr Szewczyk, First Coast Groove

Piotr Szewczyk writes: "First Coast Grooveis a virtuosic piece for solo violin which features numerous percussive rhythm effects to create the “groove.” The effects include hitting the top of the violin with fingers combined with bow effects (hard col legno). It was inspired by the exciting weekend night life by the beach in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, the rhythmic mixture of the restaurants, music, clubs, crowds walking and the beautiful beach and the ocean (contrasting in character slow middle section of the piece)."

Piotr Szewczyk (Florida), https://www.verynewmusic.com/index.html 

Edgar Meyer, Concert Duo for Double Bass and Violin

Grammy award-winning composer Edgar Meyer is a famed solo double bassist whose virtuosity is hailed worldwide. Meyer seeks to push the limits of western classical music, often paring his knowledge of double bass with an exploration of non-western instrumental sonorities. Meyer's unique fame stems partially from extended collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, with whom he recorded his Grammy winning album: “The Goat Rodeo Sessions”, named best folk album in 2012. 

Edgar Meyer (Philadelphia), https://edgarmeyer.com/about/