Classical Works

choir

Synchro (Cicada) came about after reading about the incredible emergence of Brood X, the latest Cicada brood to emerge in the spring of 2021. This rare event, occurring every 17 years, is rivalled in its visual impact only by the cacophonic song produced by the rapid buckling and unbuckling of drum-like tymbals in the Cicadas’ abdomen.

Aside from the incredible sounds produced by the insects, the precise synchronicity achieved between billions of individuals, measurable down to the day, interested me greatly, and is a factor I attempted to explore in Synchro (Cicada). Synchronization between extremely fast-moving parallel drum-machine beats to create a cohesive structure at both the micro and macro level was an attempted goal throughout the piece.

Micropolyphony was also employed as a means of applying line and gesture to repeating ostinato figures and textural material, in order to shape a larger sense of form throughout the piece.

Synchro (Cicada) for Jaw Harp, Shaker, and Analogue Drum Machine

Resonance | Texture | Pulsing

An exploration in textures and spectral timbres, the piece should be played freely and not bound by any sort of metric time structure. The concept of the piece is based around the mathematical object, known as a Mobius Strip. 

This is a shape with only one side and one boundary and has the mathematical property of being unorientable. The piece attempts to explore the strange symmetrical properties of the Mobius strip sonically, by exploring symetrical melodic figures, patterns, and larger sections of the piece.

Performed by: Anthony Thompson

Möbius Fragments

"IN THE SMALL, IN THE WIDENING MORNING" for solo piano, from the 2012 release SPONTANEOUS PIANO MEDITATIONS by John Conahan. "This album was deeply moving to record and I truly felt quietly in the moment, in the space, connected, breathing, and able to share sincerely." Full album available on iTunes.

Spontaneous Piano Meditations

in the small, in the widening morning - John Conahan

Sung by: Central Bucks High School-West Choir
Conducted by: Joseph Ohrt

Rudyard Kipling's inspiring poem, 'The Way through the Woods' deals with themes around the healing power of nature, the ultimate power of nature over humanity, and also how our impact on this world can never entirely be removed.

Although nature, and our planet have an incredible ability to heal, and reclaim what was destroyed by humanity, the scars of our impact can never entirely be erased. However, in the end, nature is far more powerful and larger than us, and will continue to exist long after we are gone.

The Way Through The Woods

An examination of the increasing permeation of technology in all aspects of our lives. The piece is composed entirely out of manipulated recorded sounds by the cello and violin, combined with live performers. No synthesized sounds were used.

Violin: Ilana Waniuk
Cello: Amahl Arulanandam

Solid State

Aphantasia — a non-functioning mind's eye.

Fanton Clerc - Violin

Ana Mora - Piano

Fantasia Aphantasia

Performed as part of the 2020 1:2:1 livestream concert

Composed by: Steven Webb

Performed by: Camilla Caldwell

Coded | De(c)oded

Contemporary Music Composer | Sound Designer