"Rub' al-Khali (Arabic: ألْرُبعْ ألْخالي), also known as "Empty Quarter" is the world's largest contiguous sand desert, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula, spanning approximately 650,000 square miles. This piece plays as a tribute to mighty Arabian landmark. "The Empty Quarter" starts by evaluating the mysterious and quietly eerie aspects of the enormous desert (m. 1-20) with quiet solos with simple background chords. It then erupts majestically and forcefully (m. 21-28), showing how Rub' al-Khali dominates the Arabian Peninsula. It recedes (m. 29-31) to reflect again on the eerieness of Rub' al-Khali. The piece then segues into a dance-like section (m. 32-92), contrasting the beauty of dance and the beauty of the desert. The piece then runs through the desert, gaining momentum (m. 93-119). The piece ends with a final flourish, reflecting on the beginning of the journey in the desert, with the mysteriousness and quietness of Rub' al-Khali, as well as reprising the dance and adventure of the desert (m. 120-end)."

The Empty Quarter

Citrus March

Turn of the Tide

Unofficial Guide To A Good Day

This is a string quartet (2 violins, viola, cello). It is also my first attempt at minimalist music. The idea behind this was to create the creepiest and eeriest sounds and have them build up and enter at the most unexpected times.

Banshee Dance

Wrote this back in November 2015 as part of a project in which I independently studied Chinese music theory.

Program notes:

The Yangtze River, known in China as Chang Jiang or the Yangzi, is the longest Asian river and the world's third largest river. To China, the Yangtze plays a major role in history, culture and the economy. "Yangtze" pays dedication to this river. It starts with an ode ("Tanggula Ode") to the source of the river, the Tangulla Mountains on the Quinghai-Tibet Plateau. It then moves in the second section, as it goes down the river to the Three Gorges ("Upon the Three Gorges"), Qutang, Wu, and Xiling. In this section, three themes are presented, and together they are harmonius, showing the might and the harmony of the Three Gorges. The piece then moves into a softer and more solemn section ("The Ballad of the Flood"), showing how the change in elevation and the rainy season causes periodic floods along the river. The piece then flows into Shanghai, the largest Chinese city and the largest city proper in the world ("Shanghai: The Pearl of the Orient"), showing the magnificence of the enormous city. The piece finishes with a reprise, as it leaves the Yangtze Delta and flows into the East China Sea (m. 257 - end).

Nich Hoffman