Preview Version for 7 Strings (first movement)
Preview Version for 7 Strings (first movement)
The Three Rivers is a three movement work for string orchestra. The Three Rivers mentioned are the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnick rivers respectively. These rivers flank The City of Milwaukee on all sides, and have historically been associated with Milwaukee's water shippig and manufacturing culture. The Three Rivers converge just south of downtown and discharge into Lake Michigan, which led to the rise of Milwaukee as a port city.
This piece for string orchestra takes the unique qualities of each river and the neighborhoods they flow through to represent my views and opinions of the city where I grew up. This piece was written during a period of difficulty in my life, in which I felt seperated from my home while being away at school in my first and second years at The University of Wisconsin Madison. This seperation from my home led to an incredible desire to write a piece that shared my personal reflections the city I so love.
Three Metropolitan Pieces is an orchestral set of unique contrasting works, that reflect the similarities and differences between the two cities of Milwaukee and Madison Wisconsin. The first movement "Madison Fanfare" explores the centralized verticality of downtown Madison. The second movement "Milwaukee Sentiment" explores the histroic city of Milwaukee through the lense of romantic melodies and lush harmonic textures. The third movement "Trough and Triumph" explores the similar disposition of the two cities, and how hard work has historically prevailed in the Midwest as an admirable, yet exhausting quality.
Midi Realization and rehearsal performance audio of the first movement by The UW Madison Symphony Orchestra:
Golden Wheat on a Prairie Morning
From the program note: "“Golden wheat on a Prairie Morning” came about after a bike ride I took through rural Wisconsin. When I was riding, I came across a beautiful expanse of a wheat and barley field with the backdrop of the Kettle Moraine hills; The sun was at such an angle to make the yellowish hue of the wheat shine gold at that time. To top it off, there was a recently painted red barn with a grey silo on a farm to go along with the scenery, which was very stereotypically Wisconsin-like. It was a picturesque sight to see, and I immediately thought of how I could tone paint it with music."
Live Performance by UW-Madison student and cellist Grayson Geiger:
Fachwerk
Fachwerk, for orchestra, explores themes of building interconnected and weaving lines of consonant and dissonant melodies and harmonies that ultimatley come together at the end of the piece in a cohesive way. This type of building is represented by the german architectural style "Fachwerk" where exposed beams help support, yet add character to the buildings.
Audio from the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra rehearsal: