Program note
An anxious lament for love lost, borrowing musical inspiration from the plainsong, “Dies Irae.” The emotional context is sadness and futility, which transmutes into edgy feelings of anger. The metaphoric realization that came to mind was that moving on would involve something like walking barefoot across a floor covered with sharp wires. – RW
A Way Through
Lingering Thougths
A Look Back
In Passages – as a violin solo
In Passages was originally scored for violin soloist and string orchestra and recorded by the Croatian Chamber Orchestra with conductor Miran Vaupotic.
This is a reworking as for unaccompanied 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.
Within Deep Currents
Recorded by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Conductor, Stanislav Vavřínek for PARMA Recordings.
Score purchase is available through Subito Music Distribution. Purchase original CD release.
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It’s a thrill to receive the recognition of a Global Music Silver Medal for “Within Deep Currents” in the composer/composition category.
“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
August 2020 Livestream Premiere: Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor, Stanislav Vavřínek
BaDaBaDaDa – for solo string
Originally scored for low wind, I reworked the piece into this version for double bass.
The video features a wonderful home recording by bassist Joel Braun, who included it in his presentations at the Texas Music Educators Association 2021 Convention and the 2022 ASTA National Conference. I love the sense of lyricism and sensitivity of dynamics he brought to the work. Plus, I’m very grateful that he shared his thoughts on the technical aspects of the work.
In my presentation I’m giving it as an example of an intermediate level piece… so maybe a 4 or 5 out of 10 on a scale? Note-wise it’s not terribly difficult. The end of the first page and second page offer some challenges because it requires covering a little more space with the intervals in the longer lyrical lines. There are also intonation challenges since it leaves the bass so naked and there’s enough repetition that if it’s not the same for each time it’s very noticeable. Otherwise, most of the challenges are musical like you mentioned – dynamic contrasts, timing/tempo, etc. So I think an intermediate player could handle it but also be challenged and pushed musically.
(Score shown here is transposed for Solo tuning.)
Configurations
Both versions of the work as a duet for two cellists and a duet for cello & double bass are available through the score purchase link.
Score for cello & double bass
Score for two cellists
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.
Mixed Times of Yearning
Originally composed in response to a call for viola miniatures and additionally reworked as a version 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
Video features the premiere of the viola version performed by Karen Bentley Pollick so beautifully.
(Also this SoundCloud track is a midi realization of the cello version.)
In Passages – violin soloist & string orchestra
Score available through Subito Music Distribution. Purchase original CD release.
Album features the recording by the Croatian Chamber Orchestra with Miran Vaupotić, Conductor, and Mojca Ramušćak, violin soloist.
Concert performance video features the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra with Miran Vaupotić, Conductor, and Orest Shourgot, violin soloist.
* Amazon Music * YouTube Music * Apple Music * Spotify
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 blend 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
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
Changing By Turns
Then Again
Points of thought restated. – RW
Audio features cellist, Mira Frisch from the “Dancing on Glass” CD release on Albany Records.
Video features cellist Susanne Friedrich performing at the Rivers School Conservatory Faculty Recital, April 8, 2016.
Resonances
Program note: Resonances of sounds, resonances of emotions.
(Audio is a home studio recording by violinist, Eva Ingolf)
Resolves
Recorded by cellist Carmine Miranda.
Carmine breathes life into music with his soulful artistry and nuanced mastery. I am very grateful to include his beautiful recording on my album.
Program note: Finding a sense of acceptance and inner strength – a reaffirmation of emotional resolves in life. – RW
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 2020 COVID measures)
Paper Wings
Audio is a performance by Audrey Wright recorded at An Die Musik livestream and with a concert audience, May 16, 2021, Baltimore, MD. This was the second event in Audrey Wright’s four-concert “Beyond Bach” series for solo violin.
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 added meaning to her life, 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 composed for violinist, Eva Ingolf’s call for miniature solo violin works as tribute to her homeland of Iceland, as the “Land of Mystery and Trolls.”
Video features a lovely recital performance by violinist, Kinga Augustyn in Wroclaw, Poland.
