Daniel Cui: Get Your Head in the Game!! (for Baritone and Chamber Orchestra)

There often seems to be a wide divide between sports and art. While sports tend to be part of everyday enjoyment for the masses, art can sometimes feel distant or unapproachable. Terms like "high art" only deepen this divide. However, I am particularly interested in the intersection of these two worlds. Sports create unity; they bring people together. Yet, this communal aspect is sometimes overlooked in the artistic realm. I am not claiming that my work bridges these two worlds, nor does it aim to. I am simply someone who has had some musical training and happens to love sports. This piece is the result of that personal passion. Whether it falls under the category of ‘high’ or ‘low’ art is up for interpretation. This composition is inspired by the intense and passionate nature of basketball coaches including how they Passionately direct players, yell when mistakes are made and argue with referees over seemingly unfair calls. The role of the coach is represented by the baritone, whose texts are a combination of my own words, personal observations, and paraphrased quotes from some of the greatest basketball coaches in history. The piece mirrors the flow of a basketball game. The baritone plays the role of the coach, while the ensemble replicates the sounds and energy of a live game. The conductor takes on an additional role as the referee. Musical motifs derived from game noises are developed and dramatized, reflecting various aspects of the game including, defense, offense, timeouts, and even ejections. In the end, I’m just someone who loves both music and sports, and this piece is an honest expression of that dual passion. Through the dramatic interplay of instrumental textures and the impassioned shouts of the baritone, I hope to convey the excitement and intensity from the intersection where sports meet art.

Premiere performance by IU New Music Ensemble with David Dzubay (Conductor) and Robert Wente (Baritone), at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Auer Hall on March 13th, 2025.