grey olive tree

“grey olive tree”, written for large ensemble, takes its title from Etel Adnan’s poem The Manifestations of the Voyage. In the piece, the olive tree symbolizes memory, presence, and resilience. It acts as a witness to its surroundings, quietly observing, breathing, and trembling at what it perceives. At times, it seems to attempt to shout, to protest, to express itself; yet its voice is always subdued, muted by circumstance. Its vibrant green is replaced by grey, suggesting numbness, weariness, and restraint.

Musically, the work evolves from pitchless material into continuously shifting glissandi. The material never truly settles, remaining in constant flux, inviting the listener to focus on subtle details and murmurs. The piece emphasizes the physicality of the performers, incorporating vocal sounds and gestures, and treats the orchestra as a single body of music in continuous dialogue.

The piece asks: what happens when the olive tree is uprooted, torn from its place, and stripped of everything it has ever known?