Canopies for pierrot-ish ensemble (2020)
Towards the beginning of quarantine, I started going for walks on the Mopac trail in Lincoln, as a way to clear my head and as an excuse to go outside. For the most part, the trail is bright and open, taking you past backyards, parks, and businesses. But seemingly out of nowhere, there are a few stretches of trail that are surrounded by trees on either side, which form canopies that completely cover the trail. During the day, these canopies are the darkest parts of the trail, as the treetops block out a large part of the sunlight. But at night, these spots are dotted with fireflies, and truly feel like a small piece of another world.
My composition, Canopies, embodies the space underneath the treetops. I love the idea that a canopy is defined by its exterior, and that its interior can be completely open and empty, like a blank canvas. A high trill at the opening of the work is my way of imagining the ambience and emptiness of the canopy, and everything that follows is an outgrowth of those two notes.
Canopies was commissioned by Rebecca Nederhiser for Trace Chamber Society.