Performed live on March 18th, 2025 as part of Christopher Keach's Faculty Recital, "Songs of Hope and Resilience."

Rise, Resurge, and Rest by Sofia Galadriel

Christopher Keach, flugelhorn

Emma Gierszal, marimba

Program Notes:

Sofia Galadriel is a media composer, percussionist, and vocalist with a wide range of conceptual designs through her musical soundscapes. Known for her lush harmony and percussive undertones, Sofia thrives on exploring multiple musical genres and styles. In addition to scoring media, Galadriel's music has also been performed on the concert stage, including an orchestral commission from The Crane School of Music for the Equity and Equality concert in 2021.

Rise, Resurge, and Rest was commissioned by Christopher Keach in 2024. This piece was created to combine the dark tone of the flugelhorn and the rich, mellow, resonance of the marimba; this work blends the timbres of these instruments in a beautiful song. Rise, Resurge, and Rest showcases the depth of style attainable by these instruments. Opening with a slow Rise, the music features marimba rolls and a beautiful lyrical melody in the flugelhorn. This melody shifts into a fast, vivacious, resurgence with extended arpeggios on the flugelhorn and a strong rhythmic pulse from the marimba. The piece ends with the settling down of this theme to end with a concluding section of Rest.

Galadriel says the following about the work: "Rise, Resurge, and Rest is designed to capture the fleeting nature of emotions and the immense power they can hold as they move through us. It explores how emotions emerge, how their meaning can shift and influence our feelings, and how accepting them allows us to experience their full journey. This acceptance helps us authentically process the emotion until it eventually fades. This is a commissioned piece for Flugelhorn and Marimba that uses theme and variation which center around a couple of thematic ideas. The first theme is Rise which is introduced in a long statement which shapes and structures the piece. The second theme is introduced in the marimba only and then later the trumpet layers the first theme along with embellishments. Subtly, the trumpet will echo the Resurge section that’s yet to come. Resurge involves a diminution approach of both themes while being more energetic and upbeat. The Rest is similar to the beginning's melodic content, yet gently climaxes and fades into a quiet whisper."

This is the world premiere of Rise, Resurge, and Rest.