Program Note

When I was asked to write a piece for oboe, trumpet, and piano, I immediately thought of the acoustic qualities that those instruments are typically valued for. Composers have favored the directness of their sound, which can cut through the texture of an entire orchestra with an exacting quality. On the other hand, the trumpet and oboe are also used to carry beautiful, sustained, vocal-like lines. Thinking about this duality led me to one of my other interests, watches, which contain a similar dichotomy.

Watches are like this pairing of instruments in the sense that they are precise tools with a complex movement whose function is to keep accurate time. Yet what they are valued for, perhaps even over precision, is their aesthetic qualities. Each aspect of their design is carefully chosen so that the watch presents itself in a unique way.

One of the most iconic and recognizable designs in the horological world is the Rolex Daytona, a watch equipped with tools to time auto races. I thought about some of the most recognizable features of its design, like its distinct three subdials and tachymeter bezel, and interpreted them musically in this work. To me, what may be the most interesting feature of its design is its secondary title printed across the dial, which seems to contain a whole world in itself: COSMOGRAPH.

June 2023. Palm Springs, CA.