In Passages was originally written for violin soloist and string orchestra. This is a reworking as a violin solo.
Program Note: As with most of my works, the music arises from the emotional experience of life. I think of this as a reflection on the passages of emotion — that ebb and flow of the feelings that continually emerge and recede repeatedly throughout life.
Mixed Times of Yearning
Originally written as a miniature for viola, this is a reworking for solo cello. It is an interesting challenge to compose a work that is meant to fit within a very short timeframe, and have it stand as a complete piece of music that moves through a sense of emotional depth and development. The title refers not only to the mixed time signatures within the music, but also to a brief expression of mixed poignancies of yearnings encountered at different times in one’s life. – RW
Within Deep Currents
“Within Deep Currents” conveys some of the feelings I have had during this epic time of a global pandemic – a sense of immersion within a flow of time and a feeling of being slowly pulled along by underlying currents, as dynamic forces exert their influences through an interplay of diverse energies. – RW
(Recorded by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Conductor, Stanislav Vavřínek for an upcoming release on Navona Records)
BaDaBaDaDa – for bass
Originally scored for low wind, I reworked the piece into this version for double bass.
(Score shown here is transposed for Solo tuning. Purchase link is for the score in Orchestral tuning.)
(Audio is a midi realization)
Configurations
(Audio is a midi realization)
Solace
There are times I can only speak through the emotions of music. So, after a hard winter of life events, I composed this duet as solace.
(Audio is the midi realization)
Mixed Times of Yearning
Originally composed in response to a call for viola miniatures – It is an interesting challenge to compose a work that is meant to fit within a very short timeframe, and have it stand as a complete piece of music that moves through a sense of emotional depth and development. The title refers not only to the mixed time signatures within the music, but also to a brief expression of mixed poignancies of yearnings encountered at different times in one’s life. – RW
Karen Bentley Pollick performed the premiere of this miniature so exquisitely.
In Passages – violin soloist & string orchestra
Video features the PARMA recording by the Croatian Chamber Orchestra with Miran Vaupotić, Conductor, and Mojca Ramušćak, violin soloist.
Program Note: As with most of my works, the music arises from the emotional experience of life. I think of this as a reflection on the passages of emotion — that ebb and flow of the feelings that continually emerge and recede repeatedly throughout life. The music is written to balance the interplay between the soloist and the orchestra, rather than the traditional role of the soloist being in the forefront. The soloist should seem to emerge from the orchestra in much the way that intense feelings seem to surface from the unconscious, giving voice to our inner emotional currents, and then recede back into the chorus of the subliminal. – RW
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Relays
(Audio features violinists, Anna Cromwell and Lisa Nelson from the Albany Records release “Dancing on Glass“)
In Tandem
Audio is the Premiere performance in Tokyo by Miolina: Mioi Takeda & Lynn Bechtold
(Video is a performance recording from The Muse’s Voice concert, October 31, 2018 at Barnard College, NYC.)
Alternating Currents
(Audio is a midi realization)
Changing By Turns
(Audio is a midi realization)
Then Again
Points of thought restated. – RW
(Audio features cellist, Mira Frisch from the “Dancing on Glass” CD release on Albany Records.)
Resonances
Program note: Resonances of sounds, resonances of emotions.
(Audio is a home studio recording by violinist, Eva Ingolf)
Resolves
The video features the World Premiere of Resolves beautifully performed by cellist, Roger Morelló Ros on October 30, 2020, Kulturkirche-Ost, Köln (Germany). (mask due to COVID measures)
Originally dedicated to cellist, Carmine Miranda.
Carmine breathes life into music with his soulful artistry and nuanced mastery. I am very grateful to have this demo studio recording as a work sample.
Paper Wings
Video is a performance by Emily Kimura recorded at The Muse’s Voice concert, October 31, 2018, Barnard College, NYC.
Program note: Paper Wings is dedicated to my mother, Nancy Bondurant Jones, who, among many other lifetime accomplishments, was a writer. The title is in tribute to how her writings continually strengthened her resolve and lifted her spirits, as if with “paper wings”. –RW
(Originally composed for Michael Braudy’s request for a piece for solo violin.)
Frost Vapors
This short piece attempts to convey the ethereal beauty of frost and cold vaporous air. Originally written for Icelandic violinist, Eva Ingolf’s tribute to her homeland, as a land of mystery.
Video features a beautiful recital performance by virtuoso violinist, Kinga Augustyn in Wroclaw, Poland.
Conflictions
Reminiscent of children’s taunts, not the playfulness but rather the emotional complexity and impact – feeling “afflicted” with hurtful conflicts. – RW
(Audio is the 1998 premiere performed by Asmira Woodward-Page & Joyce Hammann, vlns; Ron Lawrence, vla; Tomas Ulrich, vc)
An Evening Indigo
Video features: Eva Ingolf, Violin; Poetry by Gunnbjorg Oladottir and Video by Rakel Steinarsdottir.
The English translation of the poem by Icelandic poet, Gunnbjorg Oladottir.
After Thought
An emotional reflection – surfacing after a thought just a moment past.
(Audio is a home recording by violinist Sylvia Ahramjian.)
