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Duo
2023
18 min.
Bass Clarinet
Trumpet
More Details
- Program Notes
- In 2009, a man named John Edward Jones attempted to traverse a cave system in Utah County: Nutty Putty Cave. The cave was notorious among both experienced and inexperienced spelunkers for containing narrow passageways, requiring several rescues in the years following the cave's discovery. Oblivious to this, Jones attempted to traverse a particularly tight passageway called “The Birth Canal”. Unbeknownst to Jones, he instead entered a different, unmapped passageway and became stuck upside-down. A rescue team attempted to dislodge him, devising a sophisticated system of ropes and pulleys. However, under the strain, the pulley system failed, and Jones slid back to his original position. After 28 hours of being stuck, it was determined that Jones’ organs had failed, and he was officially declared dead. Three distinct sections make up this piece. The first section, ADVENTURE, displays a naïveté and excitement regarding the rapid progression of its own materials. The second section, STUCK, sees the walls allegorically closed in, fluctuating between states of reflection and agony. Texts by Plato, Emerson, and news footage on Jones’ incident are quoted. The last section, DEATH, is fixated on the loneliness associated with Jones’ situation. Here, the performers become loose spirits, calling out to each other as they fade away.
- Recording Notes
- Performed on January 26th, 2024 in Ades Performance Space at the Manhattan School of Music.
- Ensemble Name
- Sam Friedman (trumpet), Tommy Shermulis (bass clarinet)