New Beginnings (2013)

Duration

6 minutes and 13 seconds

Instrumentation

Violin and Piano

First Performance

May 1, 2013 Honors/Senior Recital at Smith College

Performers: Judith Gordan and Joel Pitchon

Program Notes

New Beginnings is an imagined conversation between student and teacher. Based upon actual discussions during my more formative years, the violin represents a student questioning, learning, and developing her craft. The piano represents the teacher through the lower piano range and the more steadfast rhythms. The opening motif by the violin is a question that begins the student’s educational journey. It also serves as the primary foundational organization for intervallic content of the entire piece. Though the question is never answered or resolved, the duo go on a journey that re-asks the question and leads to more questions through the piano’s guidance.