Shimmer!

The inspiration of Shimmer! comes from a fascination with the natural behaviors of light. Physicists have observed the nature of light to function as a particle and a wave for hundreds of years. This wave-particle duality of light allows for some spectacular displays in nature, from the stars painted atop our night sky to the gradient wonders we receive before dawn. I chose to capture these breathtaking moments using the spectrum of sound colors from four cellos. The foundation of the musical material for Shimmer! (2021) comes from an earlier work - written for string quartet - entitled Sparkle! (2020). One could view Shimmer! and Sparkle! as siblings to one another, similar in many ways - both retaining a sense of buoyancy and optimism. Still, each has its unique voice and musical contributions that reflect growth in my style of music. Shimmer! reflects my optimism that has continuously been a beacon of light during trying times. Shimmer! reminds me that positivity can be a light in our life in the most natural form. I hope that this work will offer listeners a moment of reflection to consider what truly makes them shimmer!