Program Notes: Lines in the Sand

Lines in the Sand
  for solo cello
     I. Jagged
     II. Blurred
     III. Final Line

Composed: April 2004
Premiere: April 15, 2005 – Doctoral Recital: Eugene, OR

This piece was originally composed for a reading session with Third Angle, a contemporary music ensemble based out of Portland, during Spring 2004. The title, Lines in the Sand, represents a metaphor for where I was both professionally and creatively in the time just before and during the compositional process.

I. Jagged – This movement is a recomposition of a collaboration with dancer/choreographer Dominique Chartrand from fall 2003 titled Disjunction. The title of this movement refers to the jagged feel of the opening motive which is developed and manipulated throughout the movement.

II. Blurred – This movement continues work that I have been doing to deconstruct time. The music is composed “out of time” in a similar vein to Witold Lutoslawski's work in the 1960s, specifically Trois Poemes d'Henri Michaux. Notes are at times presented in bursts and at other times as long tones. Extended techniques such as natural harmonics and the use of bow pressure is something that I picked up from Saariaho's work with the cello.

III. Final Line – I really wanted to compose a final movement that sounds more challenging than it is to play. During the compositional process I worked with composer/cellist Chris Thomas to realize my intent. Some of the inspiration for this piece comes from Kaija Saariaho's Spins and Spells for solo cello. The rest of the inspiration comes from insanity!