Instrumentation: Reed Quintet - oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, bass clarinet, bassoon

Duration: 8’30

Premiere: April 29, 2021 at Daniel Recital Hall in Greenville, SC

Performers: Emma Grace Homoky, Kayla Stone, Adib Young, Ian Fonseca, Alexis Clark

Program Notes: Fractus is a reed quintet relating to the geometric phenomenon of fractals. A fractal is a large-scale, never-ending, geometric form of an object, the “whole,” that is mirrored by the minute detail, the “parts” which are assembled into the “whole,” on a progressively smaller and smaller scale. Interestingly, the original object can be seen on each level. I incorporated this into my composition by selecting five notes, F, A, B, C, E, as the large-scale sequence. These five pitches are also used as key centers throughout the composition. Besides adding accidentals in order to fit the new keys/sections, I solely use these five pitches for the majority of the piece.

Fractals are found in nature and are also created synthetically. In order to show the contrasting means of discovering fractals, I created two distinct movements.
The atmospheric first movement, Organicum, represents nature. The energetic, second movement, Anorganici, represents the manufactured fractal.