Andromeda is a work-in-progress.  It is a story of grief, isolation, and guilt. It is a story of process, 􏰀fixation, and the incessancy of doubt. It is a story of acceptance and celebration.

Scene II — As the scene shifts, an unnamed man appears on onstage, seeking out Maya. As Maya slowly immerses herself in this particular memory, revealing it to be a wake, the man methodically and insistently apologizes for an undetailed accident. Maya becomes irritated and overwhelmed.

Libretto by Christine Prevas

Performed by the Illinois Modern Ensemble, under the direction of Stephen Andrew Taylor

Featuring: Thereza Lituma, mezzo, therezalituma.com
Lewis McAdow, baritone

Illinois Modern Ensemble:
Flute - Sarah Castle
Bb clarinet - Nate Balester
Horn - Anna Marshall
Bass trombone - Daven Tjaarda-Hernandez
Percussion - Lucas Sem
Piano - Joel Hoo
Violin - Jinyou Lee, Becca Kasdan
Viola - Daniel McCarthy
Cello - Ethan Sandman
Bass - Huai-An Tseng

Andromeda — Scene 2

Andromeda is a work-in-progress.  It is a story of grief, isolation, and guilt. It is a story of process, 􏰀fixation, and the incessancy of doubt. It is a story of acceptance and celebration.

Scene I — Maya Eisner, an astrophysicist, muses on the creation and birth of stars while alone onstage.  Her mind wanders to her daughter's own fascination with the cosmos, and with falling stars, in particular.  Upon remembering an occasion when her daughter asked how to catch a falling star, Maya recalls that she encouraged her daughter's sense of wonder, instructing her to seek out the path of the star with a mason jar in hand to catch it.  Maya remembers her promise to go with her daughter, if she was afraid, but emboldens her to seek venture far to fulfill her dream.

Libretto by Christine Prevas

Performed by the Illinois Modern Ensemble, under the direction of Stephen Andrew Taylor

Featuring: Thereza Lituma, mezzo, therezalituma.com
Lewis McAdow, baritone

Illinois Modern Ensemble:
Flute - Sarah Castle
Bb clarinet - Nate Balester
Horn - Anna Marshall
Bass trombone - Daven Tjaarda-Hernandez
Percussion - Lucas Sem
Piano - Joel Hoo
Violin - Jinyou Lee, Becca Kasdan
Viola - Daniel McCarthy
Cello - Ethan Sandman
Bass - Huai-An Tseng

Andromeda — Scene 1

Traditional Folk Song / John Jacob Niles

Featuring:
Stella Childs - Violin I + II
Daniel McCarthy - Viola
Ethan Sandman - Cello

https://youtu.be/p4TgVF6ANNs

Black Is The Color (of My True Love's Hair)  (arr. for String Quartet)

One of the most, at once, comforting and disquieting experiences for me is waking up in the dead of night, cold. As innocuous an experience as it may be, I find something about it eerily visceral: chilled skin, bizarre shadows, drowsy motions, a soft glow from the window, and, underlying it all, the bleary understanding that this experience will ebb from my consciousness in a few moments.

Performed by Brian J. Hinkley, https://soundcloud.com/brian-hinkley-147199110

4:51

2:06

10:47

I’ve been a fan of Stephen Crane’s poetry for years, now, and I was drawn to this poem because of how gently and deftly it confronts the process of losing elements of yourself to time: memories, relationships, and the like.  In it, the vocalist takes on the role of an individual grappling with that process, but also reflecting on the beauty that remains.

Performed by Elizabeth Gartman, https://www.elizabethgartman.com/

Once, I Knew A Fine Song (solo soprano)

This piece was inspired by imagery of a simple construction project: a small, brick garden wall. Shoveled and spread mortar. Coarse, angular bricks. An unhurried transition in texture. A steady ascension of structure.

Performed by RE: Duo —
Wilson Poffenberger, saxophones (https://www.wilson-poffenberger.com/)
Elsie Bae Han, viola

Image by Will Quam / Brick of Chicago (https://www.instagram.com/brickofchicago/?hl=en)

Samuel Larson

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