| 2016 |
"Who am I?"
Just thirty years ago, the DRC was united under the name of Zaire. Instead of being representative of nationwide unity and strength, this name would eventually become a name related to nationwide corruption. However, this question of identity also represents one of the greatest questions we could ever ask as human beings. The Zairean story is our own story in more ways than one.
This piece was commissioned and performed as part of a fundraiser held at Steinway Hall in New York City for a Redeemer Church missions team that will be traveling to the Congo in late August of 2016. Among other things, they will be helping to train and inspire young leaders in Bukavu; bringing health to an atrophied community by investing in the next generation.
Part of what you will hear is a musical concept which calls upon the musicians to pay attention to each other equally as much as what is printed on their paper. This subtle implementation of “niente” - meaning here to be “from silence” or “to silence” - makes each individual voice dependent on the next for accurate performance articulation; placing an emphasis on human interaction in the performance of music.
"Zaire" Blueprint
Tom Jennings, Piano; Julie Castor, Violin; Diana Chen, Cello