The Paper Menagerie

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Program Note

I - The Paper Boat

II - The Monkey

III - The Moth

IV - The Snake

V - The Cranes

Each of the five pieces presented focuses on a specific relationship between the instruments, or a specific guideline. In composing the pieces, I tried to envision these paper crafts in front of me and how they would engage with the music; what personalities would they have, and how could I exploit that? 

The Paper Boat is sort of the hub for these paper creatures; the instruments have a perfect fifth relationship throughout the piece, setting up the idea of five different études. Within it, the music is relentless like a paper boat down a stream, with shifting harmonies and swirling dynamics. 

The Monkey is playful, as the instruments toss the melody every chance they get, like a game of hot potato. Rhythmic play is the goal here, as well as to share a melody between two instruments and make it sound unified. 

The Moth​ is skittish, and full of energy! A chromatic tune dashes around, with quick turns, a sense of urgency, moments of unpredictability, and humor. 

The Snake​ has a heavy focus on the octatonic scale, and the body. Octatonic scales are played simultaneously, just as the instruments and the body are as well. One can imagine a snake is it coyly approaches something unsuspecting... And then the struggle begins! 

Lastly, The Cranes focus on what the instruments can do with four notes, C-D-E-G. This piece is the most pastoral of the five, and has a more open sound. The piece attempts to emulate grace, like cranes taking flight.