Any system, once set into motion, has a tendency to remain in motion, a phenomenon known as inertia. This means that the system will continue to move, even if the force that started its motion is removed.

A large system will require a large force to begin moving, and may move quite slowly, but will continue long after the initial force has stopped.

For example, it is estimated that human activities have already committed Earth to a sea-level rise of approximately 2.3 meters per degree centigrade of global temperature rise over the next 2,000 years.

Sea-Change

Match-Mismatch is a collaboration between music and earth and oceanic sciences. The clarinets present the annual cycles of the ocean, as well as the timing mismatches in ocean life caused by climate change. The electronics are driven by oceanic, glacier, and atmospheric datasets.

Match - Mismatch (headphone Mix)

This is a piece in two movements written for (and performed by) the Triongle Trio: Aaron Graham (percussion), Julia Chien (percussion), and Sarah Kwok (viola). Each movement is built on a very strict underlying rule, but with the goal of keeping the nature of that rule completely hidden from the audience.

Shallow Water, No Diving

Caution! Uneven Road Ahead

Strange Dances is a set of four short movements for harp and bass. Each dance is strange in its own way, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. Strange Dances was commissioned (and performed) by the Sylvan Waters Duo, and made possible by a grant from the American Harp Society, Inc.

“Always Leaving Soon” is gentle and eerie, beautiful in a ‘slightly off’ kind of way, alternating with a grooving mixed-meter B section.

“Cosmic Ray Bit-Flip” opens with a lyrical waltz melody for unaccompanied bass which repeats throughout the movement, broken by an abrupt transition to a weird little interlude.

“Still Life with Fax Machine” features a melody that expands and contracts metrically throughout the movement, alternating with “Needlessly Messaienic” interludes.

“Kimchi Catastrophe” juxtaposes two musical ideas, a simple quasi-pentatonic melody in the harp, and a funky bass line. After some alternation, these two ideas eventually find a way to co-exist.

Strange Dances - 4. Kimchi Catastrophe

Strange Dances - 3. Still Life With Fax Machine

Strange Dances - 2. Cosmic Ray Bit Flip

Strange Dances - 1. Always Leaving Soon

My setting of the traditional "O Magnum Mysterium" text. 

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
------
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!

O Magnum Mysterium

The first movement of my celtic suite for wind quintet. Live recording from Walker Williams senior composition recital, April 2015. Walker Williams: Tinwhistle, Melissa McKay: Flute, Ashley Walizer: Clarinet, Ashleigh Stottlemyer: Horn, Ryan McClure: Bassoon.

Walker Williams Senior Composition Recital

Celtic Suite: A Stor Mo Chroi

This three-movement song cycle is based on scenes from the intersection of human and environment in Appalachia.

Soprano- Rhiannon Rose Griffiths
Piano- Annelie Lockneman

-Black Mountain-
Snowflakes drift and gust in the chill breeze
Among cloud shadows and delicate sun-mottled mountains
While rhododendrons and mountain pines
sing their joyful song in counterpoint with the wind
-
-The Moon-
The moon bathes fresh snow in blue and silver light
Although it is beautiful, I wish it would not shine so
Then I would not have to see the darkness so clearly
-
-Golden Leaves-
Golden leaves raining
on an ocean of grass
The balance I seek
Dancing on Autumn leaves
in shadow and light

-Violen Wynn

Appalachian Sketchbook - III The Moon

A setting of a traditional Irish blessing for Soprano, Piano, and Violin.

Soprano- Rhiannon Rose Griffiths
Piano- Annelie Lockneman
Violin- Alexander Marte

	May the blessing of light be upon you. 
May the blessed sunlight shine on you until your heart glows like a fire, 
so that stranger and friend alike may come and warm themselves;
	And may light shine out of your eyes, 
	like a candle in the window of a house, 
	bidding the wanderer come in and rest.
-
	May the blessing of the rain be upon you.
May the great rains beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean;
and leave there many a shining pool.
	And may the soft sweet rain fall on your spirit
	so that all the little flowers may spring up,
	and shed their sweetness on the air.
-
	May the blessing of the earth be upon you.
May the ground be firm beneath your feet as you pass along the roads, 
soft under you as you rest on it, at the end of day;
	And when, at last, you lie out beneath it,
	may it cover you gently, until your soul finds its way home.
-
May the road rise up to meet you;
May the rains fall soft upon your fields;
May the sun shine warm upon you;
and until we meet again, may you rest in the palm of God’s hand.

Celtic Benediction

Hi! I'm a professional composer of contemporary classical music. Give a listen, and drop me a line if you have any comments. (If you're here for the memes, you must be thinking of my evil twin: https://soundcloud.com/user-778614568)

Walker Williams

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