A Poem of Gratitude was written in collaboration with the poet, Caroline Erdmann. This poem was originally a part of her high school senior project where she wrote a short collection of poems based on her observations of learning styles, teaching styles, and teachers teaching. Because the phrase “To whom it may concern” is repeated throughout the poem, some of the musical material is based off the cipher of the poet’s name as a way to have the poet musically sign the poem like a letter. Overall, the music was used to bring out the way the poet nostalgically thanks her teachers for the education they provided her over her thirteen years of schooling.

A Poem of Gratitude

This piece was recorded by the 2014 American Creator's Chorus in Beall Hall at University of Oregon during the Oregon Bach Festival Composer's Symposium. The text is the first stanza and refrain from The Lovesong of J Alfred Prurock by T S Elliot. WIth this piece I focused on capturing the mood and imagery of the poem and as well as some of the rhythm when the poem is spoken aloud.    

The Exordium Of Prufrock

Ringtones that I made for people who support my Go Fund Me for Eurydice: A Recital of New Music by Composer Drew Swatosh

Soccer Chant Ringtone

Blues Piano Ringtone

Electric Piano Jazz Ringtone

Performers:
Ryan Chapman- Vibraphone

Cover Image:
“To celebrate its 24th year in orbit, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has released this beautiful new image of part of NGC 2174, also known as the Monkey Head Nebula.” Credit for the image includes NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

7. Postlude- Search

Ascension of Larks is set to the poem of the same name by poet friend Katie Hill, and is the second movement from my song cycle for mezzo soprano and piano, Three Musings on God. This piece focuses on rhythm through increased variation, and use of the hemiola, a two against three accent pattern. The melodic contour was also consciously considered when bringing the poem’s images to life. Each song has a dedication, Contemplation to my mom, mezzo soprano Jeri Swatosh, Ascension of larks to my grandparent, Larry and Judy Swatosh.

Mezzo Soprano- Janet Lindsley
Piano- Drew Swatosh

Cover Image:
The image is of the painting Rousse also called Toilet by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The medium was oil on cardboard and the piece was completed in 1889.  I choose this image because I liked the contrast of the raw, contemplative stance of the women mixed with cool color palette and reflective, impressionistic style. 


Three Musings on God - 2. An Ascension of Larks

This piece was comissioned by the Glacier View Junior High Concert Choir in Puyallup, Washington, Director Stephanie Bivins.

Interim, set to the poem of the same name by Lola Ridge, presents the text between two identical, unresolved sections to highlight the sense of being in-between or in transition. The harmony in this piece is mostly created through the use of pedal points (repeated notes) or step-wise movement, allowing for a slower, more gradual harmonic motion. Overall, I want to create a sense of contemplative reflection of the past, awareness of the present, and celebration of the future.

The image of the Robin Lakes area, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, was taken by Jeffery Pang in August 2009. I like how this is a image of a sunset/dusk as the interim between day and night, similar to how the dividing line between the original image and the reflection is an interim between the two images.

Interim

Three Musings on God is a setting of three poems by Northwest poet and friend, Katie Hill. The vivid imagery in each poem is captured through a focus on lyricism, word painting, and a focal musical element. Contemplation is harmonically more open and dissonant, and utilized elements of the Pelog scale from Balinese Gamelan. Within the piece there is a reoccurring motive that interjects between different ideas; like someone reconsidering an idea after thinking about other aspects of it.  Contemplation to my mom, mezzo soprano Jeri Swatosh

Mezzo Soprano- Jeri Swatosh
Piano- Drew Swatosh

Cover Image:
The image is of the painting Rousse also called Toilet by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The medium was oil on cardboard and the piece was completed in 1889. I choose this image because I liked the contrast of the raw, contemplative stance of the women mixed with cool color palette and reflective, impressionistic style.

Three Musings on God - 1. Contemplation

Grounded in distinctly American ways of express ideas through rhythm, such as slam poetry, gospel, protest chants, jazz, and hip-hop, Kind Wildness is a protest piece that explores the increasing divide since the 2016 presidential election. The phrase kind wildness comes from slam poet Anis Mojgani’s poem “I’m Forgetting This Poem Before I Write It” from Songs From Under the River. Throughout the piece, the flute is processed with delay, for counterpoint; chorus, to emulate a choir; and bit crusher, for a layer of grime. Additionally, there are references to protest chants including “This is what democracy looks like!”, “Black lives matter!”, “Education not deportation!”, and “Pussy grabs back!”; the opening of composer Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated!; and the drum groove from “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest.

Dr. Carlos Velez - Flute
Drew Swatosh - Electronics

K i n d  W i l d n e s s

This piece is the embodiment of the Portuguese word Saudade, which has no word for word direct translation in English. Saudade can best be described as an indescribable longing

Piano: Joel Thoreson

TASCAM DR-07MK2

Saudade (2015 Rev. 2020)

In Flanders Fields

Drew Swatosh is a composer originally hailing from Vancouver, Washington. Coming from a background in arts integrated education, he strives to create connections within his music, whether through the inclusion of programmatic/extra musical elements; collaborating with other composers, musicians, and artists; and/or the combination of different musical styles and compositional techniques. His compositions range from chamber works, vocal and choral pieces, and more recently, arrangements of Brazilian music.

As a composer, Drew, has studied with Elizabeth Ackerman, Dave Averre, William Whitley, and Kevin Walczyk. In 2015, he graduated with a bachelor of music in contemporary music from Western Oregon University. Drew also has had the opportunity to participate in many different master classes including Halcyon Trio Oregon, Ascendo3, Dave Metzger, Chen Yi, and Gabriel Prokofiev. Beyond master classes. Drew has had the opportunity to sit in and listen to a rehearsal of the Oregon Symphony, and participate in the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium and the Fear No Music Young Composers Project. For his SATB setting of the Poem In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Drew won 1st place in the Washington State Music Teacher’s Association Young Composers Project for the 11th grade division.

Drew Swatosh

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