Afterlove (2022)
Instrumentation: clarinet, violin, cello, piano
Duration: 5 minutes
For two years, there was a unique, sensual chord that occupied my brain. I originally intended for it to be used in an orchestra piece, but the COVID-19 pandemic made a large ensemble composition not realizable. As normalcy was gradually returning, I still wanted to write a piece based on this chord and opted for a quartet: clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. In Afterlove, I wanted to create an intensely lyrical sensation through a blurring of dense, coloristic harmonies and rhythmic freedom and variety. Regarding rhythm, I specifically wanted to emulate the fluidity that I admire in the symphonic work of Hans Werner Henze and Per Nørgård. Nuts and bolts aside, the work is a brief, personal reflection on romantic love. Afterlove was premiered by the Brightwork Ensemble on September 4, 2022 as part of the Impulse New Music Festival in Los Angeles, CA.