A research-rooted artistic collaboration between composer Jessi Harvey and choreographer Julynn Wildman, based on the mating songs and dances of the Japanese Rhino Beetle research performed at the Evolutionary Biology Lab at the University of Montana. Each movement corresponds to a different stage of the mating process and uses data to create the overall structure, tonality, motives, textures, and all other aspects of the music.

B-flat Clarinet: Elora Dawson
Bass Clarinet: Savy Holgate
Alto Saxophone: Owen Kirby
Tenor Saxophone: Verne Stimpfling
Marimba: Autumn Schenk
Mixed Percussion: Abi Tyler
Recording, Editing, Mixing: Dead Dino Productions

Suite 2, The Six Week Battle

Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Anna K, Aaron Keyt, and Neal Kosály-Meyer, September 5, 1998

Banned Rehearsal 506 980905

recorded at Sleeping Dog Farm, Clinton, WA, May 5, 2018

Lamb Day 180505 B

Mitchell 131114A

Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Aaron Keyt, June 30, 1988

Banned Rehearsal 142 880630

Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Anna K, Aaron Keyt, Neal Kosály-Meyer, September 12, 1998

Banned Rehearsal 507 980912

arrangement of titular tune as found in an 1846 shape note song book 

111 Chard 250817 [250817]

performed on an old pump organ in a ranch house in Avon, Montana, July 17, 1988

Serenade (Avon 880717) 880711 master

arrangement of the titular tune as found in an 1846 shape note song book

112 Gaulos 250824 [250824)

Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Anna K, Haley K, Steve Kennedy, Neal Kosály-Meyer, August 25, 2025

Banned Rehearsal 1132 250825

World Premiered by Katherine Cheng	(violin) and Jeongmin Oak (piano) Kilbourn	Hall,	Eastman	School of Music Rochester,	NY | 
Friday, November	22,	2024

Program Notes:

“Tea with Debussy & Pärt in Casablanca” is a musical dream born from a vacation in Havana, Cuba. This piece imagines an encounter with the esteemed composers Arvo Pärt and Claude Debussy in the vibrant city of Casablanca, over Moroccan tea. It is not an imitation of their styles but rather a heartfelt conversation between us, infused with elements of both composers’ musical languages. Originally commissioned by Vincent Delorme for viola and piano, the piece was premiered in Montreal. The clarinet version, performed by double Grammy-nominated clarinetist Tasha Warren and pianist Yun Hao, premiered at the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY, in June 2024. Katherine Cheng, inspired by both the clarinet version and her experience performing in the sextet premiere of the first movement of my Suite “Moroccan Dances,” felt a strong connection to my compositional style. Her expressive playing and nuanced interpretation are well-suited to the music’s blend of minimalist and impressionistic elements. Katherine’s excitement about this collaboration led to the creation of this violin and piano version, marking the beginning of our artistic partnership. The piece begins with minimalist touches, a nod to Pärt’s recent works, where the piano introduces serene arpeggios that intertwine with expressive violin melodies. As the music progresses, it incorporates Debussy’s harmonic richness, weaving a tapestry of sound that captures the essence of typical Moroccan conversations—dynamic, lively, and filled with unexpected turns.

Tea with Debussy and Pärt in Casablanca for Violin and Piano - World Premiere

Also known as George. A Montana-born freelance composer and teacher; gardener and reader; thinker and walker. 

Photo Credit: Sonya Harris