richard johnson,
composer and multimedia artist


concert music



IMAGE: detail from the score for "Five Scrolls of Musashi"



For Soloists



with and without electronics



IMAGE: Robert White performing "Introit" for trumpet, electronics, and video



Musashi


for flute, electronics, and video
(2012)




Musashi is guided by excerpts from Miyamoto Musashi's text on strategy, Go Rin No Sho. Musical material is inspired by Honshirabe, a prominent work in shakuhachi repertoire. Throughout the piece, the fixed part is derived from samples of taiko and shakuhachi, the metallic clash and scrape of swords, and a reading of the Fudo-myoo sutra. Elements of taiko performance are also featured in both parts, particularly the concept of oroshi, a gesture in which the interval (or ma) between sonic events is reduced over time.


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Introit


for trumpet, electronics, and video
(2011)




An Introit calls the congregation to the sacred ritual of Eucharist. There was a time when the holiness of this ritual was threatened by the Armed Man (L’homme arme), who dared to bring the popular sound of the masses into the sacred space of the Church. Some believed that the use of so catchy a tune, drunkenly sung in medieval taverns across the land, damaged the sanctity of both the ritual and the hallowed grounds on which it took place.


Introit for solo trumpet and electronics was commissioned by—and is dedicated to—Samuel Wells.


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Hiram


for clarinet, electronics, and video
(2012)




Hiram Bingham III is frequently credited as the “discoverer” of Machu Picchu. At the dawn of the twentieth century, he was guided by local Quechua campesinos to the awe-inspiring ruins that overlook the Urubamba River Valley. He dedicated many years of his life to the exploration of the Peruvian Andes and the remnants of Incan civilization, still inhabited by Quechua and the mysteries of an ancient people.


Hiram was commissioned by—and is dedicated to—Cheryl Melfi.


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Five Scrolls of Musashi


for solo timpanist w/ bass drum and tam tam
(2005)




In 1645, Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the greatest Japanese duelist of his time, wrote his treatise on strategy applicable to one-on-one swordsmanship, one-against-many conflict, and large-scale battle. The text contained the basics of Musashi’s own “Two Heavens” school of the sword. Divided into five scrolls (or “rings”) named after the five elements, his text is the inspiration for this set of short pieces for solo timpanist.


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Nocturne for the Hieroglyphica



for solo piano
(2009)





“I read an article about a fascinating creature. I don't think it has a common name, but its scientific name is Hemiceratoides hieroglyphica and it is a giant, tropical, colorful moth that drinks the tears of sleeping birds. As far as anyone knows, the moth is only found in Madagascar.


“A moth that drinks the tears of birds as they sleep. Doesn't that seem enchantingly beautiful?


“There's another variety of moth, Pionea damastesalis, that drinks the tears of humans.”





For Ensembles



with and without electronics



IMAGE: detail from the score to "Anno D"



Anno D


for trumpet, piano, and percussion
with live electronics
(2017)





Anno D was composed in a time that felt uncertain. Uncertain politically, socially, environmentally… and artistically.


Rage and anger informed its creation. And fear. Why do we work so hard against each other to destroy beautiful things? When we’ve gone too far—when we regret it and try to turn back—will we be too late? Will the new creation be something of beauty or merely a shadow of the past?


Anno D was originally composed for—and is eternally dedicated to—the incredible musicians of the SPLICE Ensemble: Keith Kirchoff, Adam Vidiksis, and Sam Wells. Love and gratitude.


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Summer grass, autumn wind



for oboe, viola, and piano
(2005)





What voice what song, spider, in the autumn wind?


Summer grass - all that’s left of warrior’s dreams


Two haiku by Basho dealing with two seasons, when death is recalled in the season of living, when life silently deals with the season of dying, when the two intertwine in their passing.





Painting sunflower fields



for Bb clarinet, violin, and piano
(2004)





This piece draws its inspiration from two visual sources… the paintings of Tony LaSalle, to whom it is dedicated, and the segment entitled “Crows” in Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams


One paints, another views… one creates, another experiences… to go from mind’s eye to canvas in the medium of acrylic, to step through the finished piece into sunflower fields.





Fixed Media



IMAGE: still from "Susquehanna River, October"



Susquehanna River, October



fixed media
for video and stereo audio
(2022)





A hike along the Susquehanna River in Harford County, Maryland, on a rainy October afternoon.



Socavino



fixed media
for video and 5.1 surround sound
(2017)





"Ahh... wine and romance."



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image: Still from "Introit" for trumpet, electronics, and video
music and video by richard










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richard publishes under Charcoal Media, LLC
ASCAP member

email richard at richard@composerjohnson.com



richard johnson,
composer and multimedia artist