Lost

Ezekiel Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs

It Is Not Always May - -Dennis Tobenski

INCURABLE LUMP OF SALT is the product of several simultaneously occurring events. In early November, a sizable colony of bats took up residence in the westernmost wall of my bedroom, causing an enormous amount of noise (as well as an enormous amount of stress). Attempting to make the best of the situation, I took a recording of the bats and set out to use it as the basis for a piece. Around the same time, I came across a short poem which summarized a lot of my feelings towards my own experiences with womanhood. This poem would form the other half of my material. I found the two concepts to be both sonically cohesive, as well as ideologically cohesive; a largely benign bat infestation can easily be seen as a metaphor for womanhood. 
This is my first foray into writing for fixed media, which has been extremely difficult as well as rewarding. I recorded the audio using my iPhone and did all sound editing in Audacity. My sound palette relies very heavily on stretching sound files and creating a soundspace with consistent amounts of reverberation. This piece is in an ABC form, starting out with a light and superficial introduction, which warps into a heavy and distorted sludge. After a certain amount of damage to the soundmass, the piece collapses into itself, leaving a prickling, numb collection of sounds that irritate the listener to the end.

INCURABLE LUMP OF SALT

Many thanks to Hannah Witting for singing on this track for me, if you want to hear more from her check out her college a cappella group Secondary Dominance at Illinois State University. Enjoy!

Without Ya feat. Hannah Witting

why you've never truly been happy

Performers: Alanna Kazdan, Bailey Finley, and Sierra Phosy.
Recording & Mixing: James O'Callaghan
Assistant Engineer: Elizabeth A. Baker

Made possible by wrcms.org

LICKING A WOUND

i always finish last

every year in gym class always ran the slowest mile
cause i'd have to stop and catch my breath and walk it for a while 
and then i'd go home alone and watch my 60s videos
cause time is like an ice cream it tastes better when it's froze
but then - where does the drip go?

so i tried to take each test and have them done under the hour
but my mind preferred to stare outside and trace each cloud and flower
i'm a space cadet who'll probably be late to her own launch
cause my actions fall from faith but my intention's always staunch

i can't seem to do what i think i want
or at least not til the moment's passed
i always finish last

so i knocked on every door of every bar of every stage
but they said try to come back when i have reached a younger age
all the singers in their squares have got their hits and record deals 
while i run around in circles tryna figure out how to appeal
til i trip on my own heels

everybody's getting kissed and everybody's getting hired
me i sleep til i can't move then drink iced coffee til i'm wired
if the world could press the pause just for a day then i'd be good
then again i'd probably spend it doing every useless thing i could

i can't seem to do what i know i should
or at least not til the moment's passed
i always finish last

why can't i do anything i'm asked?
before the moment's passed
i always finish last

i always finish last (voice memo)

Cristian Larios (b. 1996) is a composer, conductor, vocalist, and educator from Joliet, IL. His works range from chamber music to larger choral works. Through his music, he hopes to empower the performers and provide the listener with a new perspective on the human experience.

His music has been performed by the Illinois State Madrigals, The No-Name Chorale, SWIC Chamber Singers, and has been featured at the REDNote New Music Festival. Larios has also collaborated with the School of Theatre and Dance and Kristin Schoenback on Ellen Mclaughin’s, Oedipus. Cristian enjoys the collaborative process and is always looking for new adventures and challenges.

In 2017, Larios was the recipient of the Harlan Peithman Music Scholarship for excellence in music theory and composition. Larios is currently a senior pursuing his Bachelors in Music Education-Choral and his Bachelors of Music in Theory/Composition from Illinois State University where he studied composition with Martha Horst, Roger Zare, Roy Magnuson, Joshua Keeling, and Carl Schimmel.

Current projects include Cause I Wanted You to Know for
percussion trio and a new commision for Christine Hansen and ctp trio for horn, tuba, and piano.

He is avid supporter of flannel, flowers, and the sparkle emoji.