YOU | graphic score

Created for Common Tone Arts Institute for Creativity

Premiered in June 2022 at the Young Composers Reading Session by members of the TORCH Collective (Eric Likkel, clarinet; Brian Chin, trumpet; Steve Schermer, double bass; Bonnie Whiting, percussion)

Performing with others requires an immense amount of mutual respect and trust. Making space for others empowers creative agency and allows for more cohesive art, but it requires intentionality from all parties. I chose to title this project “YOU” because it is designed to honor and uplift the ideas of the person(s) you are collaborating with; it places emphasis on what I believe to be a crucial part of being human: listening.

This variation asks the performers to react to two separate but related paintings that serve as graphic scores. It is highly improvisatory in nature, including the creation of the paintings themselves. The subject matter is abstract and nonrepresentational, which encourages musical responses based on gesture of line, form,  shape, and the interaction of color. I also chose to utilize bitonality as a musical limitation to mirror the visual complementary color scheme. These are also elements that cater to the concepts of listening and making room for others. 

This is the first variation of the project and is designed to have four performers; however, the nature of the piece welcomes any number of people with an optional open instrumentation.

PERFORMANCE VIDEO