As fast as the mind itself (2023)
For flute and string trio
Commissioned by DACAMERA Houston for the Menil Collection Robert Motherwell Exhibition: “As Fast as the Mind Itself.”
Upon viewing the artwork by Robert Motherwell presented by the Menil Collection, I was struck by their intense, bold lines and shapes and their unapologetic, gestural quality. Robert Motherwell was a very renowned abstract expressionist known for his paintings and prints but also his work as a teacher and writer. The primary goal of his work, while stylistically varied, was essentially to draw “as fast as the mind itself,” hence the title.
As I did more research to explore his background, I discovered an interesting story in which he was discussing with his class how to know when an abstract piece is finished, and they had come to the conclusion that a work is done when the “emotion has exhausted itself.” I use that concept along with his goal of drawing “as fast as the mind itself” as the core of this work.
Similar to his work, this piece is entirely abstract with the majority of it built on fragmented gestures to create a multilayered texture. The climax of the piece is represented by the rhythmic unison playing by the entire ensemble and explodes into an amorphous wall of sound played by the strings before dying down to the air sounds in the flute similar to the beginning of the piece. The aftermath of which contains more spacious fragments in the strings to indicate emotional exhaustion and a multiphonic melody in the flute to signal the end. The piece ends with a final glissando in the strings as high as possible- literally pushing the bow onto the bridge to symbolize being unable to play anymore.
