Symphony of the Hawai‘i Forests: Reflections on Ka Wai Ke Kumu Ola (2023) Full orchestraIridescence (2015)
for solo piano
duration: 11 minutes
Listen:
Performer: Jonathan Korth
Score Excerpt: PDF
Perusal/Purchase: contact me
Program Notes
Iridescence is a surface appears to change colors depending on the angle, such as a soap bubble or the inside of an abalone shell. With the HMTA commissioning this piece to represent the state of Hawaii for the 2015-16 MTNA, I thought the title would be apt partly because it makes a subtle reference to rainbow colors. In addition, I wanted the title to reflect the highly contrasting moods and feelings of the three movements in the same way an iridescent surface shows a variety of colors.
The first movement “Cascades” combines a steady yet unpredictable groove with a jagged counterpoint. It has a stubborn and insistent sound, but transforms considerably by the end of the movement. The second movement, “Cantabile,” is an expressive lyrical movement with a delicate tremolo throughout that creates a hushed shimmer over which the melody sings. The third movement, “Finale," is full of bebop and boogie-woogie jazz idioms but presented in a new light. This movement reflects my recent interest in melding my love of jazz with my own compositional language to create something new.