Recent Works
Relay (2021)
for Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Clarinet in Bb,
Viola, Violoncello, Vibraphone, and Piano
Nou Lou Chamber Players
Laura Atkinson, voice
Gabriel Lefkowitz, conductor
Kathy Karr, flute
Marilyn Nije, clarinet
Ernie Gross, bass clarinet
Michael Launius, percussion
Christopher Brody, piano
Laura De St. Croix, viola
Cecilia Huerta-Lauf, cello
Relay follows the transmissions from a scientific explorer from our near-future following a failed experiment with dark matter at an outpost named Relay Station Sigma.
Over the course of the piece, the audience experiences both the explorer's distress calls, which are performed out of order, and her linear reflections on the life she left behind on Earth to pursue a future in the cosmos.
(Photo Credit: Mikhail Nilov)
Appassionata (2021)
for String Orchestra / String Quintet
Louisville Civic Orchestra
Pandemic Composition Contest Winner
In Appassionata, an initial theme works to keep itself in perpetual motion. This momentum is maintained by using the inertia of its melodies and rhythms to trigger a cascade of transformations which force the original ideas into conversations with themselves. In this way, the pieces themes attempt to masquerade as new ideas by trying on new forms of expression. Each new variant brings renewed energy for the goal of perpetual motion, though not enough to keep the piece going indefinitely.
Appassionata was chosen as the winner of the Louisville Civic Orchestra's 2021 Pandemic Composition Contest, and a recording is pending. A version of the piece for two pianos was also recently included in a volume of compositions by Kosovar composers.
(Photo Credit: Cottonbro)
King of the Universe (2019)
for Soprano, Tenor, and Piano
Amelia Walsh, Soprano
Aaron Hill, Tenor
Sampled Piano
Heard through the voice of a soldier and civilian, King of the Universe contextualizes Cyrus the Great's own account of his ascent to power, and at the same time investigates the capacity for the powerful to manufacture consent after-the-fact. Text sourced from the Cyrus Cylinder, as translated by Dr. Irving Finkel, Assistant Keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian script, languages and cultures Department: Middle East at the British Museum
(Photo Credit: Mahsima Sojoudi)
Bieber Bathos Elegy - Acts II and III (2016)
for Choir, and for Tenor, Spoken Voice, Violin, and Cello
Felix: Felix Bernstein
Voice of Bieber: Conrad Sundqvist-Olmos
Chorus Director and Improviser: Shelley Hirsch
Chorus: Daniel Barbrack, Zakiya Cordice, Gia Grier, Senna Lauer, Katya Naphtali, and Mitchell Harrison
Violin: Joanna Mattrey
Cello: Leila Bordreuil
In this hybrid work of musical performance, New York-based artist, poet, and writer Felix Bernstein shifts from poetry to cabaret drag to lonely web voyeurism to deconstructive criticism to opera. Bringing into the light issues of identity and persona, Bernstein ponders the concept of bathos—the anticlimax that comes with the descent from the sublime to the ridiculous. Set to new music by composer Rron Karahoda, pop star "Justin Bieber" visits the stage as a prophetic angel to critique Felix’s perverse rapture and hysteria, while avant-garde vocal artist and pioneer Shelley Hirsch leads a youth’s chorus in a rendition of “Tomorrow” from Annie. Felix’s frequent collaborator Gabe Rubin directs and appears as a solemn sprite in a haunting version of Cole Porter’s “Every Time We Say Goodbye.”
Bieber Bathos Elegy was organized by Jay Sanders, Curator and Curator of Performance, as a co-commission with NYPAC, the New York Performance Artists Collective, with residency support from Pioneer Works.
Blue Magic (2021)
For 2 performers with MaxMSP patch and 2 Nintendo Switch Joycons. 2 channels.
Rron Karahoda, Player Red
Tanner Jones, Player Blue
In Blue Magic, two performers identified as Player Red and Player Blue use video game controllers to take on the roles of nature and humanity, respectively, as they reflect and act upon the dangers created by our species’ extractive relationship to our environment. Structured in part as a video game to highlight the ways in which consumption and competition have abstracted the very real challenges our species faces with climate change, Blue Magic takes its title from a concept invented for the Japanese video game series “Final Fantasy,” wherein “Blue Magic” is drawn directly from the flora and fauna of the series’ universe. The concept is implemented here in the way Player Blue’s sounds are generated by manipulating and processing three field recordings representing water, air, and earth, which are controlled primarily by Player Red. Player Blue actions, in keeping with the effects of our own impacts on the environment, will also cause the degradation of those sounds until nothing remains except silence unless both players agree to conclude the piece before time runs out.
(Photo Credit: Michael Adeleye)
Works List
Dramatic and Vocal Music
Ashley: A Chamber Opera in 4 Scenes. (2022) [27’]
2 Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, 2 Flutes, 2 Clarinets in Bb,
Percussion, SATB Chorus, 2 Violins, Viola, Violoncello, and Contrabass.
Relay (2021) [7’]
Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Clarinet in Bb, Percussion, Piano, Viola, and Violoncello.
Amenmose Overture and Scene (2020) [3.5’]
Baritone, Clarinet in Bb, Eng. Horn, Trumpet in C, Percussion,
Piano, Violin, Violoncello, and Contrabass.
Post-Game - Zizdorran’s Aria. (2019) [2’]
Soprano, Flute, And Guitar.
King of the Universe (2019) [6’]
Soprano, Tenor, and Piano.
The Underground Man (2017) [7’]
Spoken Voice x3 and Piano.
Bieber Bathos Elegy (2016)
Act II Chorus: Variations and Improvisations on “The Sun'll come out Tomorrow” from Annie. [12’]
Vocal Improviser and SATB Youth Chorus
Act III Duet: "Ah well, and I shall go far away." [15’]
Tenor, Spoken Voice, Violin, and Violoncello.
Electronic Music
Blue Magic (2021) [8’]
2 performers with MaxMSP patch and 2 Nintendo Switch Joycons. 2 channels.
Orchestra and Chamber Work
Isotopes No.1: Triels (2020) [3’]
String Orchestra.
Appassionata (2020) [3’]
String Quintet.
Left Without Wisdom (2010) [7']
String Quartet | 2 Violins, Viola, Cello
Dance
Trickster Song Cycle (2013) [28']
1. Ever of the Unburdened [7’]
Bassoon, Cello, Principle Dancer
2. Let it Come, Let it Go [7’]
Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Fr. Horn in F, Trumpet in Bb, Double Bass
3. Tempered in Venom, I Quake (All of Creation) [7’]
Oboe, Fr. Horn in F, Viola, Cello
4. The Crow's Ruin [7’]
Flute, Bassoon, Fr. Horn in F, Viola Cello
Video and Radio
The Underground Man (2017) [7']
Spoken Word and Piano
Under Inspektion (2015)
Theme and Incidental music for Webseries - Sampler
Between the Sidewalk and the Street (2015)
Theme and Incidental music for Webseries - Sampler