Bellona - for sinfonietta (2018)

Bellona is inspired by the fictional city of Bellona as depicted in Samuel R. Delany's novel "Dhalgren". The city is severely damaged; radio, television, and telephones do not reach it. People enter and leave by crossing a bridge on foot. Inexplicable events seem to occur in the city. One night the perpetual cloud cover parts to reveal two moons in the sky. One day a red sun swollen to hundreds of times its normal size rises to terrify the populace, then retreats across the sky to set on the same horizon. Street signs and landmarks shift constantly, while time appears to contract and dilate. Buildings burn for days, but are never consumed, while others burn and later show no signs of damage. Gangs roam the streets at night, hidden behind holographic projections of gigantic insects or mythological creatures. The few people left in Bellona struggle with survival, boredom, and each other.

Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Percussion 1, Percussion 2, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Contrabass (Perc 1: Bell Tree Whip Tambourine Triangle Bass Drum (Shared) Sizzle Cymbal Harmonica) (Perc 2: Triangle Vibraphone Metal Plate Woodblock Bass Drum (Shared) Harmonica Plastic Tub of Water)

11 Minutes (recording available on request)

"Bellona" was written for Wild Up under the direction of Christopher Rountree, and was supported through the Los Angeles Philarmonic's National Composer Intensive.