"a tired sun" is a reflection on the ambiance at the library on my campus. I tend to visit on sunny days, drawn to the giant windows that overlook the campus green. In the overwhelming heat, I find all of the burdens of the week hovering over my head, but never crashing.

Lyrics by Joe Hayes 
Recording Engineering by Cliff Robbins-Sennewald
Recorded by students at The Hartt School

a tired sun (2021)

Ileana Cea Șireată for string quartet was inspired by the Romanian folktale of the same name “Ileana Cea Șireată” by Ioan Slavici. The story follows Ileane, a princess of a warring kingdom, and her personal variance with The Prince of a neighboring empire. Ileane tricks the prince into falling into a pit of knives meant for her, then comes to his death bed disguised as a priest. There, The Prince unknowingly confesses his love to Ileane (Să Fie Ucisă). The Prince recovers and asks for Ileana’s hand in marriage. On their wedding night, he makes one last attempt on her life, but Ileana outsmarts him one last time and they live happily ever after (Noaptea Nunții Prințesei Ileana).This ancient tale from the cradle of European civilization is striking: sadistic, brooding, Brontëan romantic leads and a carnally passionate narrative work together to lift a fine, crystalline mirror to our human nature: Loving is a violent internal rapture, and to be loved is to surrender control and accept the ultimate sacrifice.

Ileana Cea Șireată for string quartet

Giovanna Spiotti, b. 2002, is a Romanian-American composer and vocalist who obtained her B.M. in Music Composition at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, where she studied composition with Gilda Lyons and voice with Cherie Caluda. As composer, Spiotti explores issues of her first-generation experience and gender identity through melodic lines and recurring, symbolically-charged motives. Her music emphasizes narrative, drawing inspiration from ancient text and visual mediums. 
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The portrait that I am using for my profile picture was taken by my dear friend, Davis Martin

Ileana Cea Șireată for string quartet

Giovanna Spiotti

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