a jolt as the floor is ripped from beneath my feet (2023) | 9’ | solo harp

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When coming up with ideas for this piece, I felt inspired by the open atmospheres created by composers like Scriabin and Schoenberg–especially in their works for piano. I wanted to take that idea and imitate it for the harp.  This idea of open space, I felt, would be created with wide harmonies and rustling, distant textures. The general concept of the piece that I wanted to convey was an exploration of trust–when do we as humans decide to trust one another? What are the benefits and drawbacks of trust? What role does trust have in society and the mob mentality? These questions constantly floated around in my head as I wrote this work. Also present is the musical idea of a “jolt.” Open textures are juxtaposed with loud rumbles and jarring attacks. What does it feel like when we give all of our trust to someone and they rip it out from under you? How does that experience affect your future endeavors and relationships? How careful should we be about giving trust?