Push (2013)

for soprano, flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, accordion

written for Ensemble Arsenale, Rieti, Italy

Push (2) (2014)

for soprano, flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass

written for Eco Ensemble, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.

a Boom tells me you’re near,

the nerves smolder beneath my skin and an aching throb pulses behind my ribcage.

close. Then closer. we make

contact

only warmth between our mouths, we taste

Anticipation

[If I hold my breath, I can feel heaven. When I close

my eyes, I see God.]

and I inhale:::a

<push>

through my vein::

then you exhale:

breathe a kiss into my lungs.

The generating impulse of Push is the breath or pneuma, what Aristotle termed the “vital heat,” and that which in Stoic philosophy was the mixture of the elements of air (in motion) and fire (or warmth). Within this context, it is the active, generative principle that organizes both the individual and the cosmos. Push was written from a place of desperation, of anxiety, and of fear; however, my aim was always to write something else entirely, something that I was afraid would have been too sentimental–a love song. Thus, the piece exists where ecstasy and uncertainty meet; the warmth and motion of one’s pneuma can meet another’s and conjoined in sonic energy, they would propel the music forward.

Push (2) is an expansion of the initial piece, substituting the strings for the original’s accordion. The text was also expanded, including parts of the original text that I had written but was omitted for one reason or another. In many ways, the substitution of strings increased the timbral, formal, and perhaps expressive palettes of the piece; on the other hand, the accordion’s function as lungs is sorely missed. Finally, though the proportions of Push were adjusted for Push (2), I wanted the scale and duration of the piece to be streamlined and concise. I wished the piece to maintain its many moods —

music&words:::amadeus.julian.regucera. performed by ensemble L'arsenale = voice|||livia.rado. flute//bass flute|||elena.gabbrielli. clarinet//bass clarinet|||marco.ignoti. accordion|||luca.piovesan. cond.|||filippo.perocco.

NOTE: The audio is best if listened to with headphones. Computer speakers suck. music&words:::amadeus.julian.regucera. performed by eco ensemble = voice|||ann.moss. flute//bass flute|||stacey.pelinka. clarinet//bass clarinet|||bill.kalinkos. violin|||ben.kreith. viola|||elen.ruth.rose. cello|||leighton.fong. contrabass|||richard.worn. cond.|||david.milnes. Text: a Boom tells me you’re near, the nerves smolder beneath my skin and an aching throb pulses behind my ribcage. close. Then closer. we make contact only warmth between our mouths, we taste Anticipation [If I hold my breath, I can feel heaven. When I close my eyes, I see God.] and I inhale:::a push through my vein:: then you exhale: breathe a kiss into my lungs.

Push (2) performed at Homophonic! 23/1/17 as part of the Midsumma Festival – La Mama Carlton Courthouse Theatre, Carlton, Melbourne – Zachary Johnston, Belinda Woods, Ed Ferris, Merewyn Bramble, Justine Anderson, Stephanie Arnold, Miranda Hill, performers; Steven Hodgson, conductor