Tenderness and Rot

for Viola and Pre-recorded Track

Written by Che Buford for performance by Roselyn Hobbs

Program Notes:
As I was finding inspiration for this work, I came across Kay Ryan’s poem, Tenderness and Rot. I was particularly intrigued by the first stanza: ‘’Tenderness and rot share a border. And rot is an aggressive neighbor whose iridescence keeps creeping over.’’ I interpreted this as the premise of the poem - this notion that polar oppositions find ways to coexist, and in fact, are dependent on each other. In my piece, the work explores the relationship between warmth, and tenderness: ugliness, and harshness. The work is scored for solo viola and a pre-recorded track. The track consists mostly of viola samples and some electronic sounds. Both elements continue to find juxtapositions. The live viola alternates between rapid notes in an unstable and erratic manner while playing natural harmonics that are filled with resonance and outlining a consonant major chord. The track plays harmonies that sound very consonant, but it explores both coldness and warmth in the tone simultaneously. You will also hear quarter tones lingering that oppose the overall consonant feel of the work. It is my hope that a listener will find beauty in this piece with all the opposing elements that somehow work together.

Timbre is a project hosted by New Music Mosaic, connecting composers and performers of new music and resulting in the composition of 24 new solo miniatures, premiered via two Youtube albums.