Instrumentation: Woodwind Quintet
Duration: 5′
Five Movements:
- Prelude: Conditions for Growth
- Perpetual Permeation: Rhizome
- Overlapping & Variegation: Leaves
- Exquisite Simplicity: Flowers
- Vim & Vigor: Hot Herbal Energetics
Program Notes (short):
As an herbalist, I was excited by the opportunity to write this piece inspired by Hexastylis contracta, a threatened species of wild ginger found only in the southern Appalachian mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. The piece was commissioned by Gabe Porter, French horn and premiered by the woodwind ensemble at Appalachian State University March 2025. A longer description of each movement can be found below.
PDFs of my scores are available on a pay-what-you’re-able basis.
Choose an amount
After purchase, a PDF of the score and parts will be emailed to you. Please allow up to 48 hours, in case I am traveling.
PurchaseProgram Notes:
As an herbalist, I love plants. So, when Gabe Porter asked me if I was interested in writing a piece about an endangered or threatened species in North Carolina, I jumped at the opportunity. I chose Mountain Heartleaf, a species of wild ginger, as my inspiration. The piece is in five short continuous movements, each highlighting a different aspect of the plant.
Prelude: Conditions of growth. The Mountain Heartleaf lives in the deciduous forests in mountainous regions of Tennessee and North Carolina populated with Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron. The opening chorale establishes the rich, dense harmonic landscape of the piece.
Perpetual Permeation: Rhizome The Mountain Heartleaf spreads across the forest floor by a rhizome, creating a ground cover. A constant eighth-note pulse permeates and propels this scherzo-like movement.
Overlapping and Variegation: Leaves. The leaves of the Mountain Heartleaf are heart-shaped, slightly variegated in their color patterns, and overlap each other, shading the forest floor and keeping it moist. A five-part canon provides overlapping and variegation in sound between the instruments.
Exquisite Simplicity: Flowers. The flowers of the Mountain Heartleaf are understated, subtle, and elegant, often hidden by the leaves. This movement borrows from Satie’s Gymnopedies, which I believe are the epitome of exquisite simplicity.
Vim and Vigor: Hot Herbal Energetics. Because Mountain Heartleaf is threatened, it should not be used, but it shares properties with other species of wild ginger*, and the root has a similar spicy taste to the Asian culinary ginger. The last section of this piece is a fast, energetic finale fitting for a plant with “hot” energetics which help to activate and enhance the actions of other herbs when blended with them in medicinal formulations.
*Before using any wild plant, be sure to do thorough research regarding benefits and risks, and make sure you have a proper ID and are using an appropriate species.