​APOTROPE FOUND SOUNDS, FIXED MEDIA, AND LIVE ELECTRONICS

Apotrope, created in collaboration with composer/performer Alex Lough, asks the performer to perform on found sounds while equipped with a gyroscopic sensor, which affects live processing of the found sounds as the performer moves their hands. Created with imagery of the Hamsa Hand, a symbol used to keep evil forces at bay, Apotrope represents the persistent struggle to keep away from the evil in the world.

BREAKDOWN RAG SOLO PIANO

Breakdown Rag is an homage to Scott Joplin, a musical tribute to recognize his amazing contributions to the world of music. The work follows a strict rag form for the first half, with strong and metrically accented bass figures underlying syncopated melodies; in the second half, however, the degradation of Joplin’s health begins to reveal itself as the “rules” of rag begin to break. Tempo begins to fluctuate, and once catchy melodies begin to become serialized and dissonant. Finally, the piece ends as Joplin’s life does - an accelerated descent into insanity, with the ending arriving unexpectedly early.

​​(ELSEWHERE) SOLO VOICE

​(Elsewhere), for solo voice and player-less piano, is a short song written from the following text:

For a moment there,
I saw an ounce of promise in you.
But you weren't strong enough
to follow through on that.

I just hope, for your sake,
that you one day find it again;
That you manage to brush away
the rubble in your head
and find a way
to love, and be loved.

It's something you've been without for far too long.

SEPIA RAINBOW, TECHNICOLOR WORLD SOLO VIBRAPHONE

Sepia Rainbow, Technicolor World is a cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for solo vibraphone, commissioned by Kayla Liptak in honor of her close childhood friend, who passed away from Lupus. With each repetition, the accompaniment diminishes both harmonically and rhythmically, while the beautiful and memorable melody remains unchanged, just as when one passes away, their memory stays with us.

UNKNOWN CONVERSATIONS SOLO VIOLIN

​Unknown Conversations, a solo piece for violin, explores differences in timbre and dynamics on the violin in a dramatic and romantic fashion. Throughout the work, the “conversation” grows into an intense and frantic nature over the course of the piece until it reaches a climax, where it then proceeds to return to its original statement.

THREE MINUTES ​SOLO PERCUSSION

Three Minutes is based upon statistics given for different occurrences which take place every sixty seconds. These statistics were divided into three sections: nature, humanity, and industry. Each of these three sections were then elaborated into ten minutes of performance art. Thus, the entire thirty minute performance of this piece would truly be representing one minute of time within the statistical parameters. This piece was commissioned by Aaron Levy for the 2016 Cicada Consort marathon charity concert, hosted by the University of Alabama.
For access to scores and other resources, please contact the composer by means of the contact form or emailing jbtubbs@crimson.ua.edu