Euphoria 

     There was a moment during the early stages of the writing process where I was stuck and didn't really know where these sketches were going so I took a break to watch the HBOMax tv show of the same name, Euphoria. Watching a show about teenagers doing drugs didn't really sit right with me so for my own sake, I wanted to reclaim that word for myself. I wrote this piece as part of the NYU NeverMind The Noise Spring residency with the BlackBox New Music ensemble.  

     

     This piece is a reflection of the chemical reaction your body has when you feel “euphoric”. When the brain releases these chemicals, called endorphins and enkephalins, your heart rate increases, blocks pain and at times, accelerate healing, which in some cultures, it is said to mimic the effects of morphine. This piece was created to capture the moment the brain leases the cells, traveling through the bloodstream, increasing your heart rate to finally wearing off leaving you with the sensation of relaxation. 

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     The work begins with the echoing of a repeated note passed from one instrument to another. With each repetition, the figure and the ensemble grows, ideally mimicking the endorphins released from the brain. Throughout the piece, the ensemble grows into a tumultuous fanfare. The sound of an unorganized and sporadic texture fills the room ultimately coming together. The chemical passage continues with the reverberant cello coursing through the ensemble like the endorphins course through the body. Hearing echos of textures that have just passed, the violin soars vibrantly over the sound, deconstructing then reconstructing itself with sense of unity. The dissipation of sound marks the ending section with the loss of sound reminiscently echoing the opening repeated figures ending with the subtle spark of unity.