Super-charge

This piece is a study in energy/momentum and maintaining it from start to finish. I use the first four notes of the octatonic scale as a primary motif, as it occurs in different temporal expressions as the music develops. It's expressed horizontally and vertically at different times; if you were to study the score, you would see this four-note idea infecting the whole structure of the piece. I also make use of the "split 3rd" that is found inherently within the Octatonic scale. These make up most of the aggressive interjections that are scattered throughout the music.

The alternating measures of 5/16, 7/16, and 4/16 are meant to act as "jolts" that shoot through the body of the music. This rhythmic intensity coupled with novel "FX" and repetition, comes together to create a vibe that is equally thrilling as it is disorienting and brutal, like hanging on the back of a lightning bolt.

Recorded (and premiered) at Old Dominion University on June 17th, 2025.