Subpar Parks
for flute, Bb clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Total Duration: ca. 8’15”
I. It Rained on Me in the Desert (Big Bend) (ca. 1’00”) pg. 1
II. Scenery is Distant and Impersonal (Zion) (ca. 1’15”) pg. 8
III. There are Bugs and They Will Bite You on Your Face (Sequoia) (ca. 1’00”) pg. 11
IV. It’s A Hole. A Very, Very Large Hole. (Grand Canyon) (ca. 1’05”) pg. 17
V. Save Yourself Some Money… Boil Some Water at Home (Yellowstone Hot Springs) (ca. 1’05”) pg. 20
VI. Too Orange, Too Spiky (Bryce Canyon) (ca. 1’05”) pg. 30
VII. Looks Nothing Like the License Plate (Arches) (ca. 1’00”) pg. 36
Program Note:
Subpar Parks is a series of semi-comedic miniatures loosely inspired by Amber Share’s poster art featuring negative reviews of the American National Parks. There are seven movements, each based on a negative review from Yelp, Google, and other online platforms. In each movement, I depict the comedic character of each review and at times blend in and contrast my own personal experiences with the beauty of these parks. The piece reflects humanity’s ability to be bored by even the most magnificent sights but encourages the listener to go deeper and find unexpected beauty in the seemingly mundane. The piece was commissioned by the Houston-based contemporary music group Musiqa for their 2024-2025 season.
cryinglikeababy:milktheglissandi
cryinglikeababy:milktheglissandi moltovib
cryinglikeababy:milktheglissandi
B
asslidy,whiny,andbendyaspossible
asslidy,whiny,andbendyaspossible
asslidy,whiny,andbendyaspossible
freelyglissup
freelyglissup
glissupthrough harmonics
Buzzing,likeanannoyingrun-onsentenceq=156
BbCl.
Anendlessfabricofflutteringflurryq=92
pppsotovoce,inthebackground
pppsotovoce,inthebackground
consord,multosultasto,bariolage
ppppfaintlypitched,noisy sim pagurglingbubble pppstuttering,delicate
BbClarinet
B
VII.LooksNothingLiketheLicensePlate(Arches)
BbCl
muteforlastnote