Observation (No. 5) is a short piece for clarinet and string orchestra. It is a brief yet evocative work for clarinet and string orchestra, composed and first recorded in 2017 and newly recorded in June 2025. Written in a post‑minimalist style, the piece unfolds with meditative poise, weaving gentle clarinet lines through a shimmering backdrop of sustained string textures and subtle rhythmic shifts. Its title hints at a sense of quiet contemplation, as if the listener is invited to pause and reflect alongside the music’s restrained but luminous development.

This new recording offers a refreshed interpretation, with Stefan himself as the clarinet soloist, highlighting the piece’s delicate interplay between solo instrument and ensemble. It will be available in the spatial audio format, which enhances the immersive quality of the sound, surrounding the listener in its calm yet subtly evolving harmonies. The result is a work that feels intimate and spacious at once—both a personal statement and a serene musical landscape that rewards close listening.

Observation (No. 5)

Observation (No. 5) (for Clarinet and String Orchestra)

Stefan Kristinkov: Composer, Arranger, Musician 

Stefan is an eclectic composer, known primarily for his work in independent films, and a clarinettist with an extensive performing background based in New York City.
His music is characterized by its inventiveness in combining diverse, often unexpected elements, blurring the boundaries of styles and genres.
Regardless of being an accomplished musician, music producer and an ambitious composer with years of professional experience, Stefan retains a profound curiosity allowing him to consistently explore new ideas and pursue unique creative solutions.

As a GRAMMY® winning composer and multi-instrumentalist, Carla Patullo is best known for her music that blends lush acoustics with layered vocals and experimental electronics. Her music strives to connect with the deep human emotions that are found in moments of grief, healing, redemption, and joy. Carla’s latest work, the GRAMMY® nominated album So She Howls follows a near-death experience, from which she emerged with a new sense of adventure and gratitude. It features the Scorchio Quartet (Philip Glass, David Bowie, Laurie Anderson), the vocal ensemble Tonality (Bjork), and violinist Lili Haydn (Opium Moon).

Some of Carla’s recent film scores include the Disney+ film Maxine starring Margaret Cho, directed by Niki Ang; Charlotte Hamblin’s Everybody Dies Sometimes, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; Magic Hour, an upcoming dramedy starring Miriam Shor; My Name Is Maria De Jesus, an HBO Latino film; Porno, Fangoria’s recent SXSW hit; the IDA shortlisted documentary Lotte that Silhouette Girl; and an in-the-work project called Bitterroot, a beautiful new film about the Hmong community. As her body of film work shows, Patullo is passionate about writing music that supports and advances inclusion for women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community. (Full List of Credits.)

"Carla’s music is vibrant, ethereal, sometimes haunting, and so often mesmerizing." - POPAXIOM