Southern Music Company

Composer: Joshua Reznicow
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: String Orchestra
Level: 4

Whispers of Color (aria for strings) was originally a short sketch written for the Linn-Mar High School Symphony Strings, an ensemble that I have had the privilege and honour to work with and direct each day for over two decades. During the 2020-2021 school year we were under the restrictions of the pandemic which limited groups and ensembles from rehearsing in the same room. This of course posed a problem for many ensembles to function, and creative solutions were needed to keep our students engaged and moving forward. One such creative solution was to produce a short film with our ensemble providing the soundtrack for this film. For the music, we used a combination of new music written by the students and myself. The project was a success for all involved and kept many students engaged during a challenging time. The following year as restrictions were lifted, I decided to expand on what I had provided for our film and finished the sketch to form a fully written composition suitable for a live performance.

As a result, Whispers of Color (aria for strings) was born and premiered in the fall of 2021, performed by the Linn-Mar High School Symphony Strings under the direction of the composer. The composition features a beautiful and enchanting orchestration that utilizes flowing lines, short solo passages, and a variety of string effects such as pizzicatos, flautando bowing, and trills throughout the score. The formal structure of the piece is in ABA, using a soft entrance, a more intense middle section, and a return of the opening theme, while concluding in a peaceful manner.