Pacific Composers, Spring 2024 Premiers

SPRING PREMIERES

Pacific Composers

Featuring original works by Pacific student composers: Skylar Warren, Jordan Wier, Kamron Qasimi, Marcus Rudes, Ian Orejana, and Miranda Duarte

Andrew Conklin, composition program director

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

7:30 pm

Recital Hall

Parallel Strands (2024)

APRIL 30, 2024, 7:30 PM

horn

Interwoven (2024)

The Beat of Your Own Drum

Owen McCarthy, Justin Silva, Nadege Tenorio, Daniel Tran, bassoons

7777777 (2024)

Emma Young, Samuel Gaccione, violins

Gavin Downing, viola

Bailey LaBrie, cello

Brass Quintet No. 1 (2024)

Kamron Qasimi, Yukina Shimokawa, trumpets

Skylar Warren, horn

Bronson Burfield, trombone

Alejandro Villalobos, tuba

Qasimi ’27

&

(2024)

Miranda Duarte, Ian Orejana, vocals

Abigail Miller, clarinet

Bergen Finley, guitar

Mendoza, violin

water lilies (2024)

Miranda Duarte, vocals

Aimee MacDonald, alto saxophone

Alex Maldonado, trumpet

Kyle Saelee, percussion

Bergen Finley, guitar

Gianna Pedregon, violin

Marwan Ghonima, double bass

Rudes ’27

PROGRAM NOTES

Notes by the composers

Warren: Parallel Strands

As I have continued to perform music through many styles and genres on horn, I have gained a strong sense of the infinite timbral and color possibilities through brass instruments. This piece was written for my spring 2024 Junior Performance Recital as a demonstration of many of the sounds and sonorities that are possible through traditional playing and extended techniques on horn.

Wier: Interwoven

When starting Interwoven, there was only one thought that came to mind: “Create a groove.” So, I did just that. This is the first movement of what will be a larger work whose focus is the idea of melodic and supporting lines that are always interacting with one another.

Qasimi: 7777777

7777777 is a piece that is very 7-centric, at least in the beginning. It starts off in 7/8 meter with seven-measure phrases, hence the name. The goal with this composition was to create a variety of sounds for the string quartet in a manner that’s fun to listen to.

Rudes: Brass Quintet No. 1

Brass Quintet No. 1 reflects moments of struggle and uncertainty. As the piece unfolds, the music shifts into a more energetic section that battles against the initial feelings of doubt. I like to think of it as someone who has momentarily lost their way but was suddenly reminded of their purpose and passion. The piece then returns to the subdued section but with a newfound sense of hope and belonging.

Orejana: Bonnie & Clyde

Miranda and I have been meaning to write a duet since last year. We decided to lock in and finally write a song together. We ran with a crime/ detective theme since it would open up more wordplay opportunities in the lyrics. With a lot of help and googling of crime terms, we ended up making this song about how a self-defense murder is like having to break up with someone even though you wanted it to work out. Enjoy solving the mystery!

Duarte: water lilies

Water Lilies gave me the opportunity as a composer to explore the connection between performer and score. I would like to thank my wonderful musicians

PROGRAM NOTES

for allowing me to push the limits of what notation can be. Visual scoring is an unconventional concept I’ve begun to explore. The projections you will see on stage are pieces of art the performers are reading as they improvise. Rather than notes and rhythms, what would you play if you saw a flowing river?

Composers write the music, but performers bring a piece to life. That connection is often dictated by standard notation, but the rules are beginning to change. Let’s blur the boundaries between composers and musicians and create music that tells a story beyond what you can read. Let’s write for what you can imagine.

PACIFIC FACULTY

Composition Faculty

Andrew Conklin, program director

Hendel Almetus

Eric Wood

Ensemble Coaches

Lenard Ott

Igor Veligan

View a digital version of this program at issuu.com/MusicatPacific.