Instrumentation

Flute

Clarinet in B♭

Bass Clarinet in B♭

Alto Saxophone

Piano

Percussion (marimba, tam-tam, triangle, glockenspiel)

Premiere

Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble – April 9, 2021

Program Note

              Fresh is inspired by Lake Michigan, both its natural properties and its meaning in my life. As a part of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is one of the world’s largest bodies of fresh water, making it a life-giving source unlike the oceans. In my own life, Lake Michigan has been a place of fresh starts and hopefulness. I was born in Evanston, an Illinois city that borders the lake, and years later began getting to know my future husband on walks along Lake Michigan’s shore. Last summer, when I was missing my former home in Colorado after having recently moved to Michigan, I watched my dog splash and play in the water, and I felt a fresh sense of encouragement and purpose living in Michigan. Fresh captures the hopefulness of each of these moments with bright colors, boundless energy, and exhilarating joy.

              Fresh was commissioned by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble, directed by Bill Ryan.