embers, cinders, ash

for b-flat clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (2022)
c. 12 minutes

“embers, cinders, ash” was written for the Unheard-Of//Ensemble, and was premiered by the ensemble in Normal, IL on November 2, 2022.

Movements:

1. self-ignition — [c. 4 minutes]

2. the warmth of those around you — [c. 8 minutes]

3. extinguished — [c. 3 minutes]

When I begin writing a piece about a topic that is commonly portrayed, I try to ask myself - are there any ways to think about this topic in a different way? For ember, cinders, ash, I took a look at something simple - fire - and my personal relationship with the topic aside from it being generically dangerous. self-ignition mimics the struggle to start a lighter or a fire. the warmth of those around you is about how bonfires and firepits are used to bring people together and form a sense of community. Lastly, extinguished revisits the concepts of movement 1 and is about putting the fire out.