Aurai

Program Note

Aurai (2017), for clarinet and viola, was commissioned by Violet (Elizabeth Crawford and Katrin Meidell).

In Greek mythology the aurai are the "winged nymphs of breezes." Their various characteristics are derived from their origins as daughters of one of the four wind gods: Boreas, god of the north wind / bringer of winter; Eurus, god of the east wind / bringer of warmth and rain; Notus, god of the south wind / bringer of storms; and Zephyrus, god of the west wind / bringer of spring.

Aurai is part of the composer's ongoing work in algorithmic composition. Specifically, Aurai made use of sonification, algorithmic manipulation of pitch and rhythm sets, as well as various interactive processes for live editing and steering of the algorithms. This work was composed with the use of Common Music / GRACE and Max.

Performance Information

• Premiere: Violet Duo Concert, Sursa Hall, Muncie, Indiana, August 29, 2017.
• Violet Duo Concert, International Viola Congress, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, September 2, 2017.
• Violet Duo Concert, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, October 12, 2017.
• Contemporary Players Ensemble, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 18, 2022.
• Recorded on Violet, Albany Records, 2019.

Recording