Stillness

Commissioned by and dedicated to Jacob Valcheff

Sometimes, the space in between notes is the most striking in music. Instances of ‘sudden silence’ can easily become ‘loud silence’ and overwhelm us. In the context of the global COVID-19 crisis, Stillness was commissioned to explore said themes of uncertainty, stress, hope, and our outlook on both artistic and personal futures. The vibraphone is the perfect instrument to entertain such ideas, as demonstrated through manipulation of the attack, sustain, and decay of the simple, pure tones throughout the piece.

Stillness is meant to be calm, peaceful, reflective; moods we all have embraced during the pandemic and resulting social isolation. While playing, consider the ‘sudden silence’ you have experienced through the pandemic—silence where sounds or music would normally be. How has your silence changed?