Rusted Box in Wasteland

Rusted Box in Wasteland (2022) written for solo piano explores the details of loneliness. In writing this piece, I had in mind a vast and desolate desert landscape, devoid of any other life. The only visual anchor was a giant, rusted box, as per the title. For the landscape, I crafted the piece to revolve around my synesthesia's dusty orange to represent the sandy landscape, its red for the box, and its purple as the individual experiencing the loneliness.

Loneliness is often a nuanced experience. In one instance, it can be gentle or elegant--when you want to be alone. In another, it can anxiety-inducing, with paranoia and the fear of being alone forever. And in another, it can be a purely horrific and depressing experience--a downward spiral. Rusted Box in Wasteland represents this variety of feelings and experiences so that the listener can self-reflect on their own loneliness.

Performed by Thomas Weaver of the Curtis Institute of Music on November 27th, 2022

Ca. 9 min

Link to the performance: 

Hi  @Antonio Alvarado-Genie,

Thanks for joining us!

This piece is wonderful. It's introspective for the outer sections and tumultuous for the middle section. Throughout the whole piece it's motivically cohered. The theme in the middle section is first hinted in b.26 and then b.34-35 with the use of D natural-D flat clash (b.24 less apparent though). The opening F-Db-C-Bb motive is treated and transformed with great care. I especially love b.317 when you split the motive to different registers. For me it really represents the isolation of being lonely.

Your choosing of Db major is very consoling and introspective. Even if the tempo is slow for the outer sections I never feel bored at all since it's composed with both craft and real emotions. All those time signature changes are very subtle and nicely placed. Very great job for this! That fermata in b.37 is very subtle. After the wondering in the previous bar, it takes time to think, that's why there's a fermata.

I may have a longer transition to the middle section instead just one bar in b.44 given there is a great change of mood, tempo and tonality, but that's personal. The middle section is also linked strongly with the chromatic motive, and I love that direct tone clash in b.69 and 79. It really reminds me some sort of the War Sonatas by Prokofiev!

It's very clever of you to combine the two motives in b.138 with great effect! Very crafty here and you have the motive reduce to the moment in b.210!!! Very magical and poetic there. But it only acts as a distant memory as the agitated passage easily gets over it! Great effect here!!! It's great you reach the evel of Ab-G-G natural in b.247 to match with the hint in b.26. 

I love the retransition in b.290. It's smart of you to use that expanded set of the opening motive in L.H in b.299! In the reprise section, one wants to get peace once more as in the beginning but the memory in the middle sections are not forgotten given the tone clash. Very artistic here! What a peaceful but somewhat unsettling ending this is!! Very nice composition!

Personally I may remove all those 15va signs to a 8va sign or even the actual pitch, for example b.14-15 actual pitch maybe better.

The recording is very nice too!! This wonderful piece is worthwhile to have a great recording for it.

Thx so much for sharing!! Hopefully you will take time to look into other members' works and possibly review them! I'm sure with your level your review will be very beneficial to our fellow members.

Henry

A wonderful piece that fulfills its purpose and makes you dream somehow. At first it seemed to me that the middle part was too "energetic", but it is certainly a nice contrast to the other parts.
The score is very well detailed.