Afterglow
ENSEMBLE
Bassoon Octet or Bassoon Ensemble, with optional Contrabassoon
DURATION
Approx. 7 minutes
Recordings
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Score
Notes
Afterglow is the inaugural commission for The University of Texas Bassoon Studio, led by Professor Kristin Wolfe Jensen. She allowed complete compositional freedom, with only a request for exuberance and opportunities for the bassoon to showcase its rich solo voice. The music oscillates between bright rhythmic gestures and bellowing chorales, with players weaving in and out of the ensemble. In tribute to Jensen’s impactful teaching and her adage to “play every single note beautifully,” motives throughout the piece are derived from the exercises she uses with her students. The piece and its title, Afterglow, are inspired by the breathtaking sunset views from the UT Music School's practice rooms. My brief time in Austin was marked by these reflective moments observing the stunning afterglow of Austin sunsets.
The premiere of Afterglow, planned for early in the COVID-19 pandemic, was canceled, disrupting many musicians' plans worldwide. In 2021, the studio safely rehearsed on the San Jacinto parking garage's rooftop and later recorded Afterglow in Bates Recital Hall under Farkhad Khudyev. I am grateful to Jensen and UT-Austin for this opportunity, which honed my skills and prompted me to perceive myself more holistically as an artist. I hope listeners find their own moment of peace, savoring the joy of communal music-making once more.
COMMISSIONED BY
Kristin Wolfe Jensen for The University of Texas at Austin Bassoon Studio
World PRemiere
Kristin Wolfe Jensen and The University of Texas at Austin Bassoon Studio
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