Refraction: the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc. being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.

The musical DNA of this piece is grounded and constant throughout. The material itself does not change, yet the manner in which it is explored and the transformations it undergoes all encompass the concept of this piece. The initial tone is stretched into a cluster sonority that later informs all aspects of the proceeding material including the rhythmic, noise, and harmonic aspects of the piece. Each section is conceptually a new medium the original material passes through. My hope is that the listener is able to discern the expansive alterations as they occur and recall past events that may have evolved into greater significance, essentially following the material through this journey of refraction.

Refraction (saxophone quartet)

This song, written as a sort of apology letter to an old friend, is one of my first excursions into the singer-songwriter genre. Heavy musical influences include jazz, a style made familiar to me by my father and whose harmonic language I find most expressive, as well as contemporary broadway, whose combination of popular music forms and theatre never cease to touch my heart in a profoundly beautiful manner. 

Recorded live by the composer: April 22, 2018

To an old friend—

I can’t help but feel that this piece would be more interesting if someone other than me wrote it. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what this means. 

This performance is by Quince Ensemble.

text and score: http://www.evanoadams.com/an-artistic-expression

An Artistic Expression?

evan o adams (2020)
solo violin with distortion

about the "one in one" project: 
during the period of social distancing, self-isolation & self-quarantine due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in march 2020, i challenged andrew noseworthy & myself to write a 1 minute solo for each other in 1 hour. afterwards, i extended the invitation to anyone who wanted to try by posting the challenge idea (to write a 1min violin solo in 1hr) to my social media. i was overwhelmed with the response to this project, and will be recording each piece for an upcoming release while in self-quarantine this spring.

An Artistic Expression?

Evan O. Adams

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