Nowhere to hide
Commission
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
First performance
Kelsey Bentley (June 2021)
Instrumentation
Horn in F
Duration
2 minutes
Perusal score
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
First performance
Kelsey Bentley (June 2021)
Instrumentation
Horn in F
Duration
2 minutes
Perusal score
Purchase
Program note
This piece is inspired by a series of conversations I had with Kelsey Bentley, the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony, in January and February 2021, whose vivacity, infectious excitement, and fearlessness are infused throughout the work. I was drawn to the idea that in a solo work—not just a concerto but a piece in which the player is as alone as anyone can be on a stage—there’s nowhere to hide. That fact can lead us to either cower, doing our best to hide and protect ourselves, or to embrace the power of where we find ourselves. Exploring the feeling of putting oneself out there, taking a stand, and being bold—which are all part of the ongoing civil rights discourse—made this feel like the right piece, right now.
The work travels through the journey of my conversation with Kelsey. It’s a pathway I often walk when I’m trying to come to terms with a new, scary idea, turning it over in my mind, coming at it from as many ways as I can imagine. The work opens with a note that gives the player nowhere to hide, an uncomfortable and insistent written high A that many horn players would rather avoid, rather than be forced to play over and over. The contour and pitches of the opening fanfare lurk throughout the entire work, transforming into more lyrical and calmer gestures in all registers of the instrument, playing with the puzzle of the original idea in new ways. This journey leads to the groove of a breakthrough, the place where new ideas become yours, where you love them for what they’ve shown you about yourself, and where you need no outside validation to enjoy them. That feeling of confidently steering into uncharted territory drives the fun, playfulness, and continuous build of the second half of the piece. I am grateful to Kelsey for her artistry, imagination, and enthusiasm throughout the compositional process.
This piece is inspired by a series of conversations I had with Kelsey Bentley, the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony, in January and February 2021, whose vivacity, infectious excitement, and fearlessness are infused throughout the work. I was drawn to the idea that in a solo work—not just a concerto but a piece in which the player is as alone as anyone can be on a stage—there’s nowhere to hide. That fact can lead us to either cower, doing our best to hide and protect ourselves, or to embrace the power of where we find ourselves. Exploring the feeling of putting oneself out there, taking a stand, and being bold—which are all part of the ongoing civil rights discourse—made this feel like the right piece, right now.
The work travels through the journey of my conversation with Kelsey. It’s a pathway I often walk when I’m trying to come to terms with a new, scary idea, turning it over in my mind, coming at it from as many ways as I can imagine. The work opens with a note that gives the player nowhere to hide, an uncomfortable and insistent written high A that many horn players would rather avoid, rather than be forced to play over and over. The contour and pitches of the opening fanfare lurk throughout the entire work, transforming into more lyrical and calmer gestures in all registers of the instrument, playing with the puzzle of the original idea in new ways. This journey leads to the groove of a breakthrough, the place where new ideas become yours, where you love them for what they’ve shown you about yourself, and where you need no outside validation to enjoy them. That feeling of confidently steering into uncharted territory drives the fun, playfulness, and continuous build of the second half of the piece. I am grateful to Kelsey for her artistry, imagination, and enthusiasm throughout the compositional process.
