Despotism – Ephemeral World

Despotism – Ephemeral World is the sequel and replacement to my 2023 string quartet, Despotism (think Overwatch and Overwatch 2, for the video game fans amongst you). The piece is inspired by John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667), which tells the story of the War in Heaven and the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The title Despotism paints a sonic picture of Lucifer’s general demeanor and eventual fall, not intending to retell the narrative through music, but rather to capture the feeling or “vibe.” The Ephemeral World subtitle explores the idea of an idyllic scenario, one where everything feel right and blissful, yet shatters in an instant and we are violently brought back to a harsh reality. Musically, this piece draws influence from progressive rock and metal style music, such as bands like Dream Theater, Riverside, and Opeth, and features heavy driving riffs and forceful, insistent figures.

Performers are encouraged to tap into their inner metalhead (or outer metalhead if you’re already one) and really dig in to the rhythms and melodic lines. This is not a piece that will benefit from “sounding pretty” – it deals with dark events, so more aggressive playing and decidedly “unclassical” technique will do well here. Performers are also invited to experiment with different tones and timbral shifts (such as moving to/from ordinario to sul pont. over the length of a phrase), should you feel so inclined. The most important thing is to let loose, have fun, and rock out!

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Recorded and mixed by Evan Gedert, March 18th 2026 at Turner-Dodge House in Lansing, Michigan.