Shadow Soliloquy (2023) - ~3 Minutes

A compelling piece for Solo Horn (Euphonium or Bass Tuba), Shadow Soliloquy emerged from an unexpected inspiration following the early completion of a graduate music theory test. The composition begins with distant, haunting cries, evoking the imagery of a solitary figure calling out into an expansive void. Initially faint and elusive, these sounds gradually gain clarity and intensity, painting a vivid auditory landscape. With its rich and resonant timbre, the horn is the voice of an unseen narrator, expressing a narrative of pain and yearning. The cries within the music are like echoes from a distant world. Throughout the work, moments of profound stillness punctuate the wailing cries, creating a stark contrast that heightens the emotional impact. The piece's climax is intense and cathartic, as the cries reach their zenith at the upper limits of the horn's range. As the piece draws close, the cries gradually recede, fading back into the shadows from whence they came. This dissolution leaves a haunting impression that the emotional journey was a fleeting dream.