Reminiscence for String Orchestra (7’ 30”) 2007

Non-printable Score

Program Note:

What do you think about when you hear the word "reminiscence?" Beautiful love you experienced or you wanted to have, sad memories or traumas you do not even want to remember, happy trips with your precious people, or a past that does not exist but you want to believe happened?

When I hear the word, I think about my friends whom I want to see, places where I had sweet moments. Among so many reactions, I expressed musical reminiscence in this piece. When I hear beautiful, strange or unique music, it is hard to forget. Not only the music, but also the circumstance when I heard the music resonate along with the musical sound. As a young composer, I listened to many romantic pieces, such as Rachmaninoff's Vocalise and 3rd movement from Symphony No. 3, Mahler's 6th movement from Symphony No. 3 and 4th movement from Symphony No. 5, Barber's Adagio for Strings and Violin Concerto, and Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 "Sorrowful Songs." When I think about these pieces, I am reminded of my friends who recommended these pieces, of my genuine passion toward music, and of hardships that I overcame with listening to these pieces.

However, the more I study music composition, the more I focus on theory, logic, or forms; it is hard to balance the knowledge and my emotion. I am eager to explore musical ideas and techniques, and so I am usually reluctant to have sweet memories toward my music. But while composing this piece, I tried to put my emotion in the foreground and knowledge in the background.

When somebody asks you what your reminiscences are, you will remember things that were unusual and special. In this piece, I put my reactions toward those romantic pieces and toward my sweet and/or sad memories. When you play or listen to this piece, I hope you have a beautiful and/or sad journey with your reminiscences.

April 2007
E.B.

Preferred Minimum String Players: 10 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4

Preferred Stage Setup:          D.B.
                                         Va         Vc.
                                    Vn.I   cond.   Vn. II