Momenta String Quartet recorded at Red Note Music Festival, 2015

Ritornello

Jesse Langen, guitar; Mabel Kwan, piano and toy piano; Meret Bitticks, piccolo; Shanna Gutierrez, bass flute

Ich ruf zu dir (I call to thee) is a musical collage in constant metamorphosis. The musical material begins with my own work then slowly incorporates two pieces by J.S. Bach, his church Cantata BWV 177, Ich ruf zu dir Herr Jesu Christ, first performed in Leipzig, July 6, 1732, and Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 from his Orgelbüchlein collection of 46 chorale preludes for organ composed from 1708-1717. The chorale preludes are a collection of organ music for church services, a treatise on composition, a religious statement and a pedagogical manual. Rolled chords heard in the guitar part are derived from the chords in the chorale. Rhythmic motives, gestures, and ornamentation are derived from the cantata. The kaleidoscopic and dense textures, and the rhythmically frenetic moments in a low register slowly traverse through rough terrain to reveal recognizable fragments of Bach’s works.  A more literal quotation of the organ chorale at the end with piccolo, bass flute and toy piano acts as a calming force, a call, perhaps from a lost child, is heard and answered.

Ich ruf zu dir for guitar and piano; piccolo, bass flute and toy piano

Tethergrowl for baritone saxophone was written for and performed by Thomas Snydacker. A longer version will be premiered by Tom in July 2016. 

Tethergrowl, for baritone saxophone

Cześć Hyła was written as a dialogue between myself and my late beloved teacher, Lee Hyla who passed away in 2014. This piece features quotes from his piece Mythic Birds of Saugerties, rearranged for bari sax in solo against recitative harmonies and bird calls written by me for low flutes. Later, the piece slowly dissolved into chirping bird whistles of four sizes invented by Adam Stager. Solos, duos and trios feature Thomas Snydacker on baritone saxophone,  Meret Bitticks is on alto flute, and Shanna Gutierrez is on bass flute.

Cześć Hyła, for bari sax, low flutes and flock of chirping bird whistles

Hellbusker, for electric bass solo, performed live by Scott Carter Thunes in March 2016.

Hellbusker, for electric bass solo

Wind-up Prelude, Meret Bitticks, piccolo; Shanna Gutierrez, alto flute; Mabel Kwan, gong tree (sound sculpture by Michael O'Brien)

Automaton and Proud Hoofer, Tristan Bruns, tap dance.

Wind-Up Prelude; Automaton; Proud Hoofer

Sand Dancer

Selections from Kinetic Suite for various flutes and toy piano, 2016

Shanna Gutierrez on flute and piccolo; Mabel Kwan on toy piano

Selections from Kinetic Suite: Courante, Cadenza, Coda and Marble Machines

This piece for toy piano and sound sculpture quotes Lully, and dissolves into glissandi.

Shanna Gutierrez, gong tree; Mabel Kwan, toy piano

Selections from Kinetic Suite: Follow the Leader Sarabande

Plectra, performed by the Chicago Harp Quartet in Chicago, October 2016.

Chicago Harp Quartet

Plectra

Thing Contained for saxophone quartet, commissioned by Anubis Quartet and premiered in Chicago, IL

Thing Contained, for saxophone quartet

Check out my website for more information. 

http://carolynobrienmusic.com/


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