La Luz
For Solo Viola and Electronics. 9-11’
Commissioned by Calvin Green in 2020 to commemorate the 1919 Berkshire Festival Competition. This work was partially supported by a SPARC Graduate Research Grant from the Office of Vice President for Research at the University of South Carolina.
Premiere April 2021
Program Notes:
La Luz (“The Light”) Trail in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is one of my favorite local hiking spots. Just below the tramway, it ascends the Sandia Mountains with a merciless climb of 3,775 feet in roughly 7 miles, though the beauty throughout makes it all worthwhile. It is the location of one of the most brutal races in the country, and although I’ve only ever hiked it myself I learned that my father had raced in it multiple times, earning a time of 1:47. Though not enough to win, it’s been enough to intrigue my friends who enjoy racing, and it’s a time they’ve been unable to match. He accomplished this at 35 years old, only two years older than I am now. Seeing as I was two years old at the time.
In Spanish, to give birth is to give light, or “dar a luz.” This year (2020) has been particularly hard on a lot of people, especially those in the performing arts. The year has felt like an end to many things, but it’s also the beginning of many other things. My wife and I found out that we are expecting, and have been looking forward to meeting our child early in 2021. Bringing a new light into our lives has been the source of immense joy in the family. We decided that his middle name will be “Luce” to honor the light that he has brought to this otherwise dark time. In the fall I hiked La Luz Trail in Albuquerque, thinking of beginnings and light, and though beginnings are filled with struggle they are also filled with resilient beauty. In the thin, cold mountain air at dawn the light is suspended in the mist and dew.
This piece draws on traditional folk elements that are the source material of much of my music, but this time the violist is accompanied by a computer that processes the sound in real time. There are small beginnings happening all the time, and slight variations, giving birth to subtle sound worlds that the player is welcome to stop and enjoy with the audience.
www.nickbenavides.com
About the commissioner:
Calvin Green is a violist currently pursuing a DMA at the University of South Carolina, studying Viola Performance with Dr. Daniel Sweaney and studying string quartet performance with Dr. Ari Streisfeld as a member of the UofSC New Sounds String Quartet (a quartet devoted to modern/contemporary repertoire for string quartet). Calvin is a 2020 Finalist of the SPARK Lab Creativity in Music Awards and recipient of a 2020 University of South Carolina Office for Graduate Research Grant to commission four world premiere pieces for Viola and Electronics. Prior to studying at the UofSC Calvin was Principal Viola of the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra in Pueblo, CO and a member the Nebula Ensemble (a commission-exclusive, new music ensemble in Denver, CO). Calvin received a BM at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, studying with Basil Vendryes, and a MM at the Longy School of Music, studying with Mark Lakirovich. When not performing, Calvin enjoys hiking, backpacking, home-brewing, and no- dig permaculture gardening.
