The image of people coming together from across the globe to march for equality, each bringing a tale to tell, sparked the concept for Justice March. It begins with three players offstage playing independently, without attempting to stay in time with each other or the onstage cellist and percussionist. While playing, they slowly walk to join the ensemble, eventually arriving and meshing their melodies into time with the group.

Filled with hesitant energy, the group then advances in “March for Equality,” pushing forward nervously but relentlessly without stopping to rest. Finishing their march in the last movement, “Illusive Hope,” they are hopeful but filled with questions. Did they achieve results? Will the struggle ever cease? The piece ends with a quiet hope for a better future.

This pictoral work offers a modern take on the clarinet quintet, traditionally a string quartet plus clarinet, but here scored for three string players, clarinet, and percussion. The complex textures created by different mallet instruments produces a sense of forward motion, and helps weave together the disparate melodic instruments.

April 2022