slanted light/for Heather (2025-2026)
for solo bass clarinet
Program Note:
slanted light/for Heather depicts the movement of light and shadows cast across tree tops and falling on buildings during short, sunny winter afternoons. The light waxes and wanes, giving way to bright, exuberant bursts that then flicker and vanish. This piece was conceived on brisk walks around my neighborhood in Chicago during these afternoons, my face burning from the cold, eyes squinting, gazing upwards at these warm and fleeting washes of light.
Towards these visual inspirations, I explored a range of techniques from Heather’s fantastic blog. I also give particular weight to the register key, exploring how it can act as a means to destabilize and color pitches in the bass register when rhythmicized amidst a moving line. All fingerings and techniques can be found at heatherroche.net and on her terrific www.multiphonics.app, which was an incredible resource for an in-depth exploration of the color and character of these careful sounds. This piece is for Heather, in friendship and gratitude, and was written to highlight her virtuosity with these emergent, luminous sounds.
Documentation Forthcoming
Performance History:
World Premier in Fulton Recital Hall at the University of Chicago in March, 2026.
UK Premier at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in November, 2026.