Classic

prisms and mirrors (2021) for pierrot sextet

I’m fascinated by prismatic musical forms: structures that continuously refract and reflect, kaleidoscopically shifting and evolving but at the same time static and unchanging. I imagine a light shined through a series of crystals and mirrors, shimmering into colorful spectra and bouncing in unexpected directions. Similarly, prisms and mirrors maps a single idea through a series of musical refractions and reflections, a set of continuous variations which is by turns textural, rhythmic, and melodic. To me, this concept of musical form resonates with the beautifully collaborative nature of writing music, in which all ideas are continually refracted throughout the course of notation, interpretation, and performance. prisms and mirrors musically enacts this refraction, with all the fragility, intricacy, and color of a prism refracting light. prisms and mirrors was commissioned by the Boston New Music Initiative as part of their 2020-21 season. It is scored for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, and piano.

Performed December 2021 by Blackbox Ensemble
Leonard Bopp, conductor
Annie Nikunen, flute
Tyler Neidermayer, clarinet
Teagan Faran, violin
Jordan Bartow, cello
JC (Jon Clancy), percussion
Jixue Yang, piano

prisms and mirrors (2021) for pierrot sextet

This piece is constructed in 3 movements in attacca form.
I. Lac calme, réverbération des vagues ondulantes, et lumière... /
잔잔한 호수, 일렁이는 물결의 잔향, 그리고 빛...
II. Une ombre, apparaît peu à peu... /
서서히 드리워지는 그림자...
III. Le festin des éclats lumineux /
빛 파편들의 향연

Premiered in Seoul art center
by Timf ensemble

09.22.2022

Son de Lumiére- refletèe dans le lac

Premiered in Geneva
by HEM ensemble
03.06.2022

prisms and mirrors (2021) for pierrot sextet

Paul Novak