Spooky Season: A witchy selection from a new recording
Get a sneak peek of the premiere recording of 'Suite from a Non-Existent Ballet' with these witchy excerpts by nonesuch.reedquintet
Last week, I got a first listen of nonesuch.reedquintet’s recording of my piece Suite from a Non-Existent Ballet. This is also the first time I’ve heard this music performed by live musicians and let me say that nonesuch did SUCH a good job animating the score.
Suite from a Non-Existent Ballet is five connected movements, each illustrating a main character or culminating moment from some imaginary ballet: Villain, Hero, Sidekick, Conflict, Apotheosis. To be brought to life, the characters have to be played to the hilt and with skill—as it certainly has been done by the five musicians of nonesuch.reedquintet.
In observance of spooky season and to tease the release of the full recording, I want to share a few of the most “villainous” moments from the piece:
In just these excerpts, there are a number of highlights for me: a characterfully bumptious bassoon solo from York (0:33), some impeccable altissimo from Kwek (keylined by Keller-Gardner’s oboe) at the ‘witchiest’ point (1:09), Hidalgo’s tasteful aggression on bass clarinet (1:38), and the fearless precision in the upper woodwinds at the high-wire moment where Villain and Hero go tumbling (1:46).
With nonesuch animating the music so persuasively, it’s beginning to seem a shame this isn’t a real ballet… any choreographers/dancers out there?
There’s lots to love in nonesuch’s playing and in this recording specifically. I can’t wait to share the whole thing and to hear more of their work!
Keep up with nonesuch.reedquintet, a super active ensemble in the Eugene, OR area. This recording came to be via their inaugural Call for Scores project as they pull together engaging new repertoire for a six-week tour of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in summer 2025
For program notes and more about Suite from a Non-Existent Ballet, check my catalog of works.
P.S.
Speaking of spooky season… we’re two days out from Halloween and I’ve yet to land on a Halloween costume. I always wait for the last minute… so if you have any fun ideas in your back pocket or inspiring photos of you or others in your getup, send them my way for inspiration…!