Musa

for violin, trombone, and electronics
commissioned by Molly Emerman and Steve Parker

Musa (2010) was commissioned by violinist Molly Emerman and trombonist Steve Parker for a series of concerts given throughout Brazil in December of 2010. Using the electronic music programming language MAX/MSP, the amplified violin and trombone signals are delayed and looped over a collage of sampled sounds culled from the rich legacy of the Bossa Nova canon. Among the voices is the legendary Brazilian singer Nara Leão, who is often cited as the “Muse of Bossa Nova.”