Instrumentation: orchestra
Duration: 9 minutes
Recording Available: No
Performed: Yes
Catalog ID: RE1036
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Stepping Through. . . was composed in the spring of 1999 in Kansas City, Missouri in the midst of completing my DMA comprehensive exams. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had to compose to maintain any remaining sanity during
this very insane time. I found myself making time to work on this piece. For
example, if I had one hour budgeted for lunch, I would drive 20 minutes to my
house so I could compose for 20 minutes. I would then drive 20 minutes back to
the University to study or teach. Subsequently, this piece is a reflection of a
stressful, frustrating, and yet very wonderful time in my life.
As in recent works, this eight-minute composition explores my interest in 'hard,
loud, and fast' music, how instrumental 'personalities' interact with one
another, the development of high vs. low motives, and the compositional process
of starting with a global shape and working toward a local level.
This composition is dedicated to Chen Yi for all of her help.