l(a, for cello and fixed-media (2024)

About the Piece

This piece is based on the poem of the same name, written by E. E. Cummings and first published in 1958:

l(a

le
af
fa

ll

s)
one
l

iness

The poem's structure and interpretation helped me define the form of the music. For example, the rehearsal markings in the score indicate where each line of the poem was converted into music, and the line one, that I see as a one word personification of the loneliness shown in the poem, is represented by the cadenza.

With a limited number of characters that represent vocal sounds in the poem, vowels became pitch centers, and consonants specific noises and extended techniques in the cello.

The recording above is from the premiere of the piece that happened in Bowling Green (OH), performed by the amazing cellist and dear friend Otavio Kavakama, to whom I dedicated the piece.