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Gradients - String Orchestra/Chamber String Orchestra

Gradients

String Orchestra/Chamber String Orchestra

ca. 5'

Grade 4

Following a single grain of stone as it travels through different bodies of water, the music transforms alongside the changing landscapes it encounters.

AT A GLANCE

Style

Energetic • Rhythmic • Lyrical


Selected Performances & Recognition

🏆 2022 National Third Place – The American Prize

🏆 Second Prize – Reno Pops Composer Showcase

Colorado Public Radio
German Public Radio
Concert Halls, Conservatories, and Youth Orchestras on six continents


What Makes It Unique

Contrasting lyrical and rhythmic movements provide mature musical content without significant technical demands, allowing ensembles to focus on nuance, balance, and musical sensitivity.


Musical Influences

Andy Akiho – LIgNEouS Suite No. 2
James Horner
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Igor Stravinsky – Rite of Spring


Why I Wrote This Piece

Written to provide string orchestras with artistically mature music that explores a wide variety of techniques without excessive technical barriers.

LISTEN
00:00 / 04:56

Budapest Scoring Orchestra
Csongor Veér, conductor

SCORE PREVIEW
Instrumentation
Full String Orchestra or Chamber Strings

Notes
• Playable with as few as 9 players

VIDEOS

Budapest Scoring Orchestra, February 2021
Conducted by Csongor Veér

Scrolling Score

PDF & Print editions available

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PROGRAM NOTE

Gradients follows the journey of a single grain of stone that has been chipped away from the top of a mountain by the relentless drip of water. As it descends through the peaks, it encounters a variety of ever changing styles as it moves through calming plateaus, sudden drops, and vast bodies of water.


Gradients was awarded 3rd Place in the 2022 American Prize for Composition and 2nd prize in the Reno Pops Orchestra Composer's Showcase. It has been performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was commissioned by the Cherry Creek School District Honor Orchestra in Denver, Colorado for a concert program inspired by their home state.

Original Cover Photo by

Samara Doole

Questions about the piece?

Please reach out if there's anything I can do to help as you explore this piece.

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