Instrumentation: Clarinet Quartet - 3 Bb clarinets, 1 bass clarinet

Duration: 6’50

Commissioned: A consortium lead by Dr. Anastasia Christofakis

Premiere: November 18, 2021 at Daniel Recital Hall in Greenville, SC

Performers: The Rubato Quartet - Miranda Thomas, Jake Daniel, Kayla Stone, Ian Fonseca

Program Notes: Gaia explores and juxtaposes ideas involving humanity's relationship with technology, nature, and itself. The piece reflects the biggest fallacy of man: the belief that we are in any sense eternal, and how this fallacy will ultimately cause humanity’s self-undoing.

Gaia has four sections representing the timeline of Earth. The piece begins with a slow, peaceful section that represents the birth/growth of nature. This section ends with a grand crescendo that leads to the antiquated, second section representing the dawn of humanity. Like humans, the second section gradually develops into the third technical section representing the creation and failure of technology. Finally, the piece ends with a solemn coda, signifying nature and earth healing and prevailing through the chaos.

Consortium Members: Lex Burson, Anastasia Christofakis, Jake Daniel, Ian Foseca, Samuel Hsieh, Lisa Kachouee, Hindolo Murray, Caitlin Roberson, Kayla Stone, Miranda Thomas, and Vanna Tsiknias