How to Wake Latin Bodies

Premiered on 6/8/2022 at New Music On The Point 2022
Performed by Alex Sopp
Audio Engineer: Brian Riordan
Video by Emmanuel Berrido
 #nmop22

Words In Sealed for flute solo, Jiaying Katy Li, performed by Alex Sopp

I composed "Mass of Light and Smoke" (previously titled "Missa Brevis") for the Choir of Saint Mary the Virgin in 2023. The title of this Mass alludes to the copious incense used at St. Mary's, and how it often plays and curls in the light of each and every corner of the church. The piece itself also draws inspiration from various Renaissance and plainsong cadences often sung in the church. The Gloria begins with a decorated plainsong chant sung by the lower voices, followed by lively punctuated syllabic rhythms from the choir. The Sanctus maintains this energetic rhythm, while the Benedictus slows down to a more reverent pace and showcases one of my favorite cadences from the Renaissance era, known as a “false relation.” In this cadence, two leading tones compete with each other to reach the tonic, the home key of the piece. The Agnus Dei, features a solo that floats in the liminal space between the tenor and countertenor voices. I wanted to create a personal piece for myself to sing, aiming to imbue the final movement of the Mass with a sense of vulnerability and spiritual intimacy. This choice also acknowledges my experience of singing both tenor and countertenor during my time singing with the choir of Saint Mary the Virgin.

Agnus Dei, from "Mass of Light and Smoke"

gravity dances (2023) for clarinet, trombone, piano, percussion, violin, cello, and bass

i. stumbling dance
ii. sinking dance
iii. hurtling dance

Performed June 2023 at the Norfolk New Music Workshop
Norfolk Contemporary Ensemble
Ning Zhang, clarinet 
Yuki Mori, trombone
Makana Medeiros, percussion
Liam Wooding, piano
 Lauren Conroy, violin
Thomas Hung, cello
Alyssa Peterson, double bass
Lisa Moore, conductor

Thumbnail: "Falling Apart" by Sarah Schonert

gravity dances (2023) for septet

Timestretched to the length of the longest recording. Now available for download / vinyl: https://heyexit.bandcamp.com/album/every-recording-of-gymnopedie-1

buy the vinyl

Every Recording of Gymnopedie 1

John Dowland was a contemporary of Shakespeare. Here his original arrangement for lute and voice alternates and mingles with this John's touches 400 years later. Drawn to this song since hearing Alfred Deller’s recording as a teen, I'm grateful to the Mendocino Music Festival for letting me scratch this and other old itches in its 2011 Village Concert series.

If My Complaint Could Passions Move

John Gilmore - If my complaints could passions move (c. John Dowland)

innova 823

http://www.innova.mu/albums/dylan-mattingly/stream-stars

01 Atlas of Somewhere on the Way to Howland Island  I. Radial Liftoff Music for Amelia Earhart

performed by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, conducted by Marc Desmons

June 25, 2019 @ Maison de la Radio Studio 105, Paris, France

cover art by Jackie Andrews

Thunderhead - for orchestra

'needless to say'
for string quartet - 2017

performed by the New Fromm Chamber Players
Chi Li, violin I
Xiaofan Liu, violin II
Sam Pedersen, viola
Sonia Mantell, cello

Tanglewood Music Center, Seiji Ozawa Hall
7.28.19

let the mind’s ear stray,
tremor’s realm. needless to say -
don’t say anything

2019-07-28 1000AM CD1

needless to say - string quartet - Tanglewood New Fromm Chamber Players - (2019)

/something emerges from thin air, collects, disperses into space/

Conducted by Gregory Ristow, written for and performed by the Oberlin College Choir
Soloists: Risa Beddie, Clara Dahmer, Isabel Breakey, Mae Harrell, Cora Lopez, Matthew Santos

Performed October 17, 2019

Joy (variation on Allegri's Miserere)

"City, Looking In" was premiered on April 13, 2018 in New Haven, CT with conductor Jasmine Gelber. It was performed by Isobel Anthony, Addy Sterrett, Emma Simmons, Bradley Sharpe, Hannah Goodwillie, Will Watson, Zak Fletcher, and Edward Vogel. Recording by Jack Lawrence. Text by Tanner Porter.

You: star-eater, light feeder / never a murmur of sleep, / always the hum and the haze of half-dreaming, / always awake, / heave the night from the day / when do you breathe?

City, Looking In

composer, pianist, tenor 
Bard B.Mus. '18
Mannes MM '23
for inquiries email daniel.s.castellanos@icloud.com

Agnus Dei, from "Mass of Light and Smoke"

Daniel Santiago Castellanos

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