I. Simple Song

II. A! mercy

III. Stomp

Arias with Dance Glitch is a slightly “unusual” violin and viola duo. Virtuosi, and friends, Ariel Horowitz and Lauren Siess asked me to compose a new work for their inaugural tour as Soliloquy. As they are fearless and consummate musicians, I decided to add extra-musical elements to the work. The first movement of Arias with Dance Glitch begins traditionally enough, in an almost Brahmsian song-like melodic manner as the players swap simple melodic fragments and pulsing chordal accompaniment. But it abruptly veers “off the tracks” towards the end of the movement as the players morph into characters and a “musical argument” breaks out between them. A bit of chaos ensues before the movement ends in a mournful mood. The second movement is a vocal setting of the 1^st stanza of the grief-stricken Middle English text A! mercy, Fortune, have pitee on me (by anonymous) from the the 15th Century Findern Manuscript. Now both string players are required to sing while accompanying themselves. The finale, Stomp, goes even further incorporating movement (created by noted DC-based choreographer Paul Gordon Emerson, Co-Founder | Executive & Co-Artistic Director of Company E) to their playing and is overtly theatrical story telling. Arias with Dance Glitch was commissioned by the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and continues my ongoing fruitful collaborative relationship with this wonderful and vibrant organization that began when I was their 2013 competition commissioned composer.

Anon, Findern ms. (Ca. 15th Century), excerpt

A! mercy, Fortune, have pitee on me,
And thinke that thu hast done gretely amisse
To parte asondre them whiche ought to be
Alwey in on. Why hast thu doo thus?
Have I offended thee? I? Nay! iwisse.
Then turne thy whele and be my frende again,
And sende me joy where I am nowe in pain.

Ah, mercy, Fortune, have pity on me,
And think that thou hast done greatly amiss
To part asunder them which ought to be
Always one. Why hast thou done thus?
And send me joy where I am now in pain.
To part asunder them which ought to be
Always one. Why hast thou done thus?
Have I offended thee? I? Nay! iwisse.
Then turn thy wheel and be my friend again,
And send me joy where I am now in pain.