REFRACTION (2012)

INSTRUMENTATION

Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano

DURATION

19 minutes

PROGRAM NOTE

Refraction for clarinet, violin, cello, & piano is an evocation of my experience coming out, a personal journey I found just as impactful inwardly as it was socially, and one that steered me from apprehension–often to the point of numbness–towards genuine inner calm, with gratitude & eagerness for what lay ahead. The work is cast in three movements:

I.“Insomnia” opens with a manic exclamation of a dissonant six-note cell, from which nearly all of the ensuing material is derived. Predominately situated in an atonal context, the music here is furious, hard-driving, and relentless. A sense of anxiety pervades, pushing us forward full-throttle until an explosive conclusion drives us off the cliff – an abrupt end to this ‘panic attack’ for piano quartet.

II.“Lullaby” is crafted as a stark contrast to “Insomnia.” Here, the music is comparatively simple and placid, with a lulling melody supported by mellow harmonic progressions. Solos account for a bulk of the music here, with a special focus on the lyrical, sonorous qualities of the cello, in all its registers. By movement’s close we drift off to a restful sleep, our musical pulse rates having finally calmed down.

III.“Awakening” begins with animated, plucked strings and jagged rhythms, leading very quickly to the main theme, a Cuban montuno groove that recurs throughout the movement in a variety of guises. This is perhaps the most optimistic of the three movements, striding confidently along with abundant energy and a carefree spirit.

–Jules Pegram (2012)