Profane Rites (2023)

for Wind Ensemble

In recent years I have found (at least in my own music) that there is not such a strong division between consonance and dissonance. In fact, I have realized that my methods for constructing both seem to be inverses of each other: my dissonances are constructed not out of complex intervals or set complexes but out of contrasting (or at least altered) consonances. Conversely, my consonances more often than not include carefully selected extensions to enrich the harmonies, some of which can go so far as to grate against the ear in the wrong context. Equally important to my harmonic language is the juxtaposition of these two methods; I find that there is nothing that sweetens a consonance more than hearing it in conjunction with extremem dissonance. Similarly, these consonances make the dissonances themselves appear even more jagged and angular.

It is this idea that serves as the genesis for this work. In fact, one could imagine that this idea is the basis for a somewhat abstract program: the music emerges as a controlled but highly dissonant and angular dance, but throughout the work engages in a back-and-forth with consonance. They enter conflicts and shouting matches, growing in intensity, and periodically overtaking each other until finally they are reconciled. The harsh edges of dissonance are smoothed over, and the consonance is enriched with a complex array of extensions and cross-relations.

Titles are more often than not the last thing to fall into place in my compositional process (I’ve never been particularly good at conjuring up snazzy titles that live up to the hype that I hope my music imparts). However, in this case there is conveyed a ritualistic ecstasy that I think matches the music well (although I still think the music is better than the title).

Duration: 12 minutes

Profane Rites was completed in May of 2022, and revised in October of 2023.