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Awaken This Feeling (2010)
solo violin, string trio, and vibraphone; ca. 10:00
Commissioned by the Connections Chamber Music Series
Premiere (version for solo violin, string trio, and vibraphone)
January 15, 2011
Jon Szanto, vibraphone
California Quartet
(Bridget Dolkas, violin; Jeanne Skrocki, violin; Pam Jacobson, viola; Lars Hoefs, violoncello)
Encinitas Library
Encinitas, CA
Complete live recording (MP3)
January 23, 2011
California Quartet
Jon Szanto, vibraphone
Norman P. Murray Center
Mission Viejo, CA
"How can comsic religious feeling be communicated from one person to another, if it can give rise to no
definite notion of a God and no theology? In my view, it is the most important fucntion of art and science to
awaken this feeling and keep it alive in those who are receptive to it."
- Albert Einstein
The title Awaken This Feeling comes from this quote from Albert Einstein about the role of art and science to
inspire a sense of cosmic order in the world. The work begins with slowly descending, dream-like scales
performed by the string trio and piano, representing Einstein's thoughts. Out of these scales, emerge
Bach-like arpeggiations from the solo violin, representing Einstein's desire to awaken a sense of cosmic order.
As the solo violin spins longer and longer patterns, the supporting ensemble continues to echo the opening
descending scales, until the motive returns more amplified to close the first section of the piece. The solo
violinist then takes up the descending scalar motive, winding it into a long, aching melody accompanied by
drones in the string trio and echoes of the Bach-like figurations in the piano. After reaching its climax,
the piece begins again with the Bach figurations, this time driving to a conclusion of spiritual affirmation.
Awaken This Feeling was originally witten for solo violin, string trio, and vibraphone, and commissioned by the
Connections Chamber Music Series for percussionist Jon Szanto and the California Quartet (Bridget Dolkas,
violin; Jeanne Skrocki, violin; Pam Jacobson, viola; Lars Hoefs, cello), and premiered January 15, 2011,
Encinitas Library, Encinitas.
The work was written as part of the Einstein in Hong Kong exhibition, celebrating sixty years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China.
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