Jason Huffman - Christmas Tree for String Trio (second half, post trunk)
Mischa Salkind-Pearl - Still Life, 2009 for Clarinet, Violin and Percussion
Aaron Jay Myers - Leg and Skull for Percussion

Christmas Tree - Still Life - Leg And Skull

"O Fragile Human, Speak..." for 8 female voices and 3 trumpets. Commissioned by the Lorelei Ensemble (Beth Willer, director). Premiered May 23, 2014.

Recording by the Lorelei Ensemble, May 24, 2014 at Marsh Chapel, Boston University, Boston, MA.

Lorelei Ensemble:
Sonja Tengblad
Margot Rood
Emily Culler
Shari Wilson
Clare McNamara
Mary Gerbi
Stephanie Kacoyanis
Emily Marvosh

Trumpets:
Chris Belluscio
Jonah Kappraff
Paul Perfetti 

O Fragile Human, Speak...

Slaughterhouse Insurrection

Premiered by Charles River Wind Ensemble on May 15, 2016 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Library and Museum, Lexington, MA. 

The inspiration for Circles Circling comes from my longstanding interest in the music of tenth-century German abbess Hildegard von Bingen. Hildegard’s flowing sense of line and distinctive motivic material are ideal foundations for the texture and atmosphere I want to create in this piece. O Virtus Sapientie, an antiphon on the virtue of wisdom, provides both the conceptual, melodic, and harmonic foundation for the undulating, swirling rhythmic figures central to the form and sound of the piece. Its dominant image is of circles and wings moving between and around heaven and earth, and the text setting of these key phrases is built of repeated dyads. Such motives facilitate a sound world churning with energy and activity that can both enliven prolonged harmonic and melodic ideas and propel them into new musical territory. 

To provide contrast on both conceptual and musical dimensions, I am also using the Sed Diabolus, which describes the Devil mocking and seeking to disrupt creation. This shorter antiphon makes greater use of Hildegard’s signature rising and falling fifth motives and has a heavier, darker sensibility in keeping with its text. 

My concept for Circles Circling will create an immersive sonic experience illustrative of the physical and metaphysical actions in the text of both antiphons. Textural activity and timbral diversity will illustrate the immense creative energy of Hildegard herself, whose body of work touched on nearly every subject studied in the medieval world, as well as the intensity and vivid clarity of the mystical visions which directed her life. 

I will use material from these two antiphons to build contrasting textures and melodic treatments that will be juxtaposed and combined throughout a ten-minute, three-movement piece. The first movement rests on a background of swirling, undulating yet rhythmically energetic and diverse figures. Over this rippling sonic foundation, a contrasted melody in long durations will emerge and eventually dominate. 

Circles Circling, Mvmt. 1

A Staggering Array of Towering Monuments (2008)
for Brass Quintet and String Quartet
(run-through)

A Staggering Array of Towering Monuments

Jason Huffman is a Boston based composer and trumpet player whose works take much inspiration from the interplay of mathematics with the perception of time and sound.

A Staggering Array of Towering Monuments

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