Evanesce (2020)
Performer: Bokyung Byun, Thu Le, Simon Cowan
Instrumentation: Solo Guitar
Program Note:
Written for Bokyung Byun and the Guitar Foundation of America’s #Tearsfor2020 Campaign, Evanesce is my response to an emotion I felt during the 2020 COVID-19 Quarantine. Although I felt many emotions during this time of uncertainty and chaos, I often felt a departure from reality, a sense of drifting away. “Evanesce” means to pass out of sight, memory, or existence - a feeling that I often felt during quarantine. This piece is characterized by a rippling sextuplet texture dusted with gentle harmonics that eventually fade away.
Evanesce is also based on and inspired by Francisco Tárrega’s Lágrima. Inspired by the simple beauty of the sad, tearful B section in Lágrima, I wanted Evanesce to reflect this same sense of simplicity and comforting sadness that I felt in Lágrima. Musically, I included subtle melodic references found in Lágrima’s B section melody that ripple throughout Evanesce.
I have hope that one day this time of chaos and uncertainty will pass. One day the pain that plagues this world will evanesce.