Program Note |
I first collaborated with Music Chairs Chamber Ensemble in 2015 after having won its annual Composer
Search competition. When Tamara Keshecki, Executive & Artistic Director of MCCE, invited me to serve as the 2018–19 Composer-in-Residence, I was delighted to accept and to compose a new work for the ensemble. I composed Sustenance for clarinet, cello, and piano during the spring of 2019. When I learned that the 2018–19 season would be MCCE's last, I knew that I wanted to compose a work that celebrates the ensemble's remarkable history and achievements within the Staten Island community. Sustenance is an exuberant, energetic work that travels between quiet, introspective moments and boldly energetic passages. When Tamara and I initially discussed this commission, we spoke about a desire to create music for the sake of creating music—because we're moved to create, and because it sustains us. And, that is exactly what Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble has accomplished over the past 15 years: It has provided meaningful sustenance to its community of listeners and musicians. |
Premiere |
Commissioned by Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble (Staten Island, NY). Premiered in spring 2019.
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Recording (excerpt) |