Serenade (2012)
(for mezzo soprano and ensemble)

Serenade is a 13–minute orchestral song for large ensemble and mezzosoprano. The text is from Friedreich Hölderlin’s short poem “Half of Life” where the first stanza refers to the joys of spring and the second stanza the sorrows of winter. The juxtaposing of these two sentiments is mirrored in the music where tonal materials commingle with noise that challenges the notion that either is the other’s residue or rubbish.