The Cold Dawn-lit Tree

This is a rough-cut, one-time improvisation based on the "Quartet of the Vulnerable," the people groups who are most vulnerable to discrimination, attacks, hate crimes, and power mongering: the Widow, the Orphan, the Immigrant, and the Poor.

This improvisation is divided into four sections, each representing a member of the "Quartet", with an introduction and coda. The Widow introduces the sighing motive and a plaintif chord structure, the Orphan contrasts a simple, child-like melody in the upper register of the piano with dissonate chromaticism three octaves below. The Immigrant is fast, panicked, jerky, and in a word... messy. The Poor is a simple section, created to reflect the ordinary life.

JeremyCardamone