Carina Bagdasarian, Coda Scheuer, violins; Eli Mayuma, viola; and Ari Freed — Greenwood Music Camp
Program Notes
In John Kabat-Zinn’s seminal book on meditation Wherever You Go, There You Are, he speaks of how we are always encouraged to look forward, to think into the future — but what if this is it? What if we sat with each moment, savoring it as if it was that special, unique, pinnacle moment?
This set of miniatures asks the musicians to explore being present with one another. Each miniature invites a different type of interaction — whether passing off a flexible and mellifluous melody seamlessly between one another, locking in with each other in a tight, shimmering holding pattern, or taking turns pushing one another off a musical cliff and then catching each other at the bottom. Each movement opens up a tiny, mutually created universe for just a few precious breaths.
Recording
(see video above)
Audio Guide
(available upon request — please contact us if you are playing this work)
Premiere/Performances
This Is It was commissioned by the Greenwood Music Camp, as the 2023 Deborah Sherr Commission. It was premiered on July 15, 2023 by Carina Bagdasarian, Coda Scheuer, violins; Eli Mayuma, viola; and Ari Freed, cello at Greenwood Music Camp in Cummington, MA.
