Piece Year: 2019

  • Stellate Hexany Earth Chimes

    Stellate Hexany Earth Chimes

    • Stellate Hexany Earth Chimes @ Djerassi

    Stellate Hexany Earth Chimes are 14 microtonal steel chimes, tuned in a 1-3-5-7 Stellate Hexany. They are installed at the Djerassi estate in Woodside, CA, USA and hung in a straight line for visitors to play with a stick.

    The fundamental frequency is an upper 2/1 (octave) partial of the Schumann resonance 7.83 Hz. This Schumann resonance is basically the resonant frequency of the Earth’s electromagnetic field, and this resonant frequency is activated (or at least implied) when its upper partials are played on these chimes.

  • Stellate Hexany Boxes

    Stellate Hexany Boxes

    • Stellate Hexany Boxes prototypes #1–2

    Inside of several cigar boxes, there are animated optical illusions which represent 3D tuning lattices. These objects float in space and play music, corresponding to the notes of a 1-3-5-7 “Stellate Hexany,” envisioned by Erv Wilson.

  • Summits

    Summits

    • Summits live at Sound Waves

      Live at the Santa Monica Public Library on March 20, 2019.

    Summits is a song cycle using texts I have collected over the last decade while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains. Each song is based on entries I have documented in various summit registers (notebooks often found at the top of mountain trails). These personal chronicles from regional pinnacles portray the wisdom, humility, and humor that can only be found on a mountain peak.

    Summits is written for voice, string quartet, and guitar/accordion, and I am happy to be joined by singer Joanna Wallfisch and the Koan Quartet in bringing it to life.

    Summits premiered at the Soundwaves Concert Series on March 20, 2019 in celebration of their 50th event!