– turn on track(s) as assigned in your part. (just click play in browser)
be brave, creative, we are swagging together, enjoy and have fun.
Alternative Player (a bit louder)
Track 1
Track 2
Swarm, Swamp, Swag (2024) for band and phones
Commissioned by Kenneth Thompson, for BGSU Wind Symphony premiere at the 45th Annual Bowling Green New Music Festival
“Swarm, Swamp, Swag” explores the complex landscape of human cognition through sound, where our behaviors become the central musical material. In my imagination, human thought and action are vast, often fragmented, and seemingly chaotic—ideas swarm, people get swamped or stuck, and at times, we swag or drift aimlessly. This piece reflects those characteristics, embracing the fussiness, fragmentation, and ambiguity that define our mental processes.
When composing for the band, I approached the music as a collection of data points—familiar musical fragments typically found in band music, yet here, they are intertwined in a swarmy, swampy manner. The inclusion of phones in the performance isn’t just a nod to modern life; it challenges the traditional concert experience where phones are usually forbidden. By integrating these everyday devices, the piece blurs the lines between the ritual of concert-going and the chaotic, interactive nature of contemporary life. In addition, to just add one more layer of experiencing this piece, the sounds of phones attempt the culture of “recording”, where in this performance, you will hear the mess of sounds qualities from many phones, where it was actually recorded live from the band.
“Swarm, Swamp, Swag” creates a performative situation that mirrors our uncertain and ever-shifting perceptions. The result is an immersive experience where sound, action, and interaction converge, reflecting the swarming, swamping, and swagging nature of human cognition.
Many thanks and hugs to my friend, great conductor, and commissioner, Kenneth Thompson, who supported me whatever crazy ideas I have. Huge thanks to BGSU Wind Symphony in advance for the premiere and big hug and thanks to my friend, curator, Kurt Doles for curating the festival at the 45th Annual Bowling Green New Music Festival.