Commissioned by the MusicON Ensemble for the MusicON InterArts Festival 2026.
Performed by Sara Salomon, Violin; Clara Cho, Cello; Jacob Freiman, Clarinet; Shirley Guo, Harp; Po Wei Ger, Piano.
Program Note:
We’re all so close, and I can’t move without bumping into one of you. I suppose that’s natural being crammed together in a big city like this. Looking back, maybe that’s what I hated the most about it, ironically. Everyone is only a half step away, so you can reach them at any time. Yay voice leading!
Now we’ve each moved a step apart. We made a third. We have a bit more room now to do our own thing, and it’s still pretty easy to cross a third. But now it’s a fourth. A fifth, now a sixth. The gulf is getting so wide now. I keep crossing back and forth, but it’s harder each time. It sounds more and more awkward. It takes more effort, more money, more time.
I want to dissolve back to my half step, where we were all in the same place. Our instruments would melt into voices – our own distinct voices, yet somehow all so similar. These voices would echo in an empty room – but it’s not empty? There are so many people here. I hope they join me. They are all just so far away – can anyone actually hear me anymore?
For additional information, questions, or parts requests, contact Aidan.