All album sales will be donated to Equal Justice Initiative (
eji.org)
Three works spanning my graduate school years, unified by a focus on communication, expression, and (mis)understanding. Scores available for perusal on
www.willpearsonmusic.com
tristis,senex,puerum (2013)
An exploration of the tremendous social vulnerability which expression, including in musical performance, requires. Refracted through childhood memories of rehearsing and performing Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus at the Cathedral of All Saints Choir of Men and Boys in Albany, NY.
Performed by myself (conducting, voice, piano) with the Illinois Modern Ensemble Chamber Orchestra
Half of My Life/Love (2016)
Inspired by two related experiences. First, the memory of tracing unreadable messages with my finger on the back of my highschool girlfriend’s hand because we were too embarrassed to talk in front of our parents. The words traced were reliably illegible, but the desire to communicate under impossible circumstances nonetheless conveyed the intended message. I think art is like that. Second, an argument over the correct lyrics of a song on a Radiohead message board: is he saying ‘life’ or ‘love’? Just caring about the question was clearly so much more important to those involved than getting the right answer.
Performed by Hannah Ji - Violin, Jennifer Bewerse - Cello, Sung-Soo Cho - Piano, and Chris Herman - Percussion.
Crazy Weather (2017)
In part a reaction to the election of Donald Trump, and an exploration of the difference between genuine conversation and mere small talk or persuasion. One of several of my pieces which take inspiration from the poetry of John Ashbery.
Performed by myself (conducting, piano) and the Illinois Modern Ensemble Chamber Orchestra
Album Artwork is an overlay of parts of the score for Half of My Life/Love
released March 1, 2021