photos from Helen — string orchestra (2023)
Commissioned by Next Festival of Emerging Artists with the generous support of Elizabeth & Justus Schlichting, duration 11’
This work was inspired by a series of photos my friend Helen sent to me after the first time we met—some of her favorites from a series taken by her husband. The photos explore the textures of clouds, subtle changes in color of the ocean, and the blue sky above.
The first movement of the work, shear-gravity, refers to the phenomenon where clouds seem to be forming waves. When wind shear increases, it causes the friction between the layers to increase, which manifests in the formation of wave-like patterns within the atmospheric stream. Similar to the way wind interacts with the ocean, the different velocity of the air between the wave crest and the wave trough causes the waves to start to break.
The second movement, strive for the summit, is a quote from Queen Kapi‘olani, “kūlia i ka nu‘u.”
photos from Helen was developed during a residency at the Tusen Takk Foundation. tusentakk.org
Upcoming Performances
Saturday, June 15, 2024 — The String Orchestra of Brooklyn, Eli Spindel, conductor / Artistic Director, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, NY
Past Performances
Saturday, June 3, 2023 — The Next Festival of Emerging Artists celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a program of world premieres for string orchestra based on the theme of interactivity as part of SONiC Festival; Peter Askim, conductor; New School Tishman Auditorium, New York, NY
Friday, June 2, 2023 — The Next Festival of Emerging Artists: World Premieres for String Orchestra including photos from Helen; Peter Askim, conductor; PS21 "Open-Air" Pavilion Theater, Chatham, New York