Intuitions (No. 2)

Year Composed:	2020
Instrumentation:	vln, vcl
Duration	6 minutes

CD Release

Album Title: Under a Veil of Stars Label and distribution: Leaf Music Music by: Kevin Lau Performed by: St. John-Mercer-Park Trio Recorded, edited, and mixed: Norbert Kraft Cover: Yesim Tossuner Produced by: Rachel Mercer with support from FACTOR, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts Available for streaming and purchase at: Leaf-music.ca

Program Notes

When Jonathan Krehm asked me to compose a set of duos (and a trio!), each to feature a different group of instruments, I struggled initially to find a theme that would unite these potentially disparate movements. I eventually became drawn to the idea of creating spur-of-the-moment pieces -- something I have rarely ever done except while improvising (privately.) The process of generating material on-the-fly, and allowing that material to bloom in ways I had not planned from the outset, proved a refreshing and liberating change of pace.

This particular 'Intuition' (No. 2) embraces a kind of exploratory dialogue between the violin and the cello. The dialogue is at times passionate and at other times playful, unfolding like a dance that flickers back and forth between multiple traditions, but with the partners always in step with one another. The piece was inspired by and is dedicated to Yehonatan and Rachel and the dance that they created together.

Sheet Music

• Score & parts available for rental here.

Commissions and Awards

• Commissioned by Jonathan Krehm, for Rachel Mercer (cello) and Yehonatan Berick (violin).