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Multiplying A Turtle’s Feelings… is programmatic work detailing a seemingly fairy-tale story about a turtle and the other forest animals that try to cheer it up. In the poem, the forest animals throw a party for the turtle and dance around it joyously and not knowing whether or not the turtle reciprocates. The animals eventually get tired of waiting for a reaction, enjoy themselves, and mind their own until the next opportunity to try and cheer the turtle up again. In reality, the story is about my own emotions – how they’ve been stunted or my ability to be mindful has gone due to the effects of depression. It has been a difficult journey, learning how to trust myself and be comfortable with feeling not okay and not present, but it has also been incredibly worthwhile.
Composed for and premiered by the NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble
Instrumentation: Fl, Ob, Cl, Bsn, Hn, C tpt., Tbn, Tba, 3 Perc, Pno, Vln 1 &2, Vla, Vc, Db
