Red Blood Spills and Pools the Same

Melissa Wang

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Sextet

2024

8 min.

Cello

Flute

Piano

Soprano

Unpitched Percussion

Violin

Program Notes: Red Blood Spills and Pools the Same was inspired by Wayne Allen Jones's poem in Swahili "jua huwaka ngozi nyeupe" (white skin peels when burned). This work highlights combinations of short percussive sounds such as flute tongue pizzicatos, voiced "ss ss", scraping fingernails on drum heads, drum sticks sliding across the piano keys, and muted piano strings. jua huwaka ngozi nyeupe (white skin peels when burned) damu yote ni sawa (red blood spills and pools the same) roho ziko wazi kama miungu (souls are clear like gods) – Wayne Allen Jones
Recording Notes: University of Washington - Meany Hall, Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater
Ensemble Name: Seattle Modern Orchestra & University of Washington Modern Music Ensemble / Carrie Shaw (soprano), Katelyn Campbell (flute), Luke Fitzpatrick (violin), Ha-Yang Kim (cello), Alex Fang (piano)