John Wineglass
ALONE for Solo Violin, Live EFX, & Electronica
I. Frenzied Lives
II. Realms of Rest
Live EFX - refers to effects that are triggered Live by the composer John Wineglass during the performance that alter the sound of the instrument.
Electronica or electronic tap - are sounds created outside the realm and means of the traditional orchestral element now used within the traditional genre.
Sponsored by: William and Patricia Smith Family Foundation
ALONE has been commissioned by the Monterey Symphony for Concertmaster Christina Mok, is dedicated to the many victims of the 2020-21 COVID-19 Pandemic and is premiering at the MSO Balcony Session on February 5, 2021.The Balcony Session Series is a COVID-guideline friendly offering of concerts by the symphony to the community via live-stream during the pandemic and often they are performed pre-recorded or live from the beautiful city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, as a human vigilant reflection during a crisis through art and music. ALONE is comprised of two starkly contrasting movements. The first entitled "Frenzied Lives" explodes at a very rapid 144 bpm (beats per minute) pace indicative of humanity across the globe pre-COVID and then into the perils of a global pandemic - all voiced by a single violin with live electronics intermittently. There would be glimmers of hope - times of possible brilliance - yet brought back to a current dismal reality of isolation, loss, loneliness, suffering and even racial injustice. A longing for common ground but finding no footing... no continuity. Abrupt silences... alone. And while it is important to rise up again to survive, we must codify through art and music these moments - less we forget the lessons learned. With the advent of COVID-19, the second movement entitled, "Realms of Rest" exposes 'alone' time that most of the global community had not experienced in 100 years or so. It was a time to slow down, reconnect with family, losing time - not just in hours but in weeks and months. At one point, I personally couldn't even keep track of days with oftentimes its repetitive motion of just existing - my calendar remaining blank for months. Time during the pandemic for me was an odd ethereal feeling, hanging in the balance in this new normal. While in the first movement, you feel the rushed anguish of being alone in some pretty uncertain times, the second movement in contrast essentially has no tempo - again voiced by a single violin accompanied by electronica and live electronics throughout. I equate this feeling of 'alone' to being in a mother's womb - connected by and surrounded by the embrace of amniotic fluid - YET far away. Close but until birth - an uncertain reality into a new world changed hopefully for the better. And while it was a beautiful time to reflect on humanity for some in all aspects, there was also a 'realm of rest' discovered and experienced by millions who ultimately died 'alone' intubated and eventually meeting their Maker. We all 'go'... we all die. And we all make that journey... alone.
Program notes by John Wineglass
