Valentina V.
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Commissioned by Hope Cowan with support from the American Harp Society
2021–2024 harp, immersive audio, and lighting Documentation List of Performances |
"…mysteriously dramatic and magical environment…the impressive beauty of this music gives the listeners a very special experience." – Huihui Cheng, composer
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Follow this link for an in-depth program note and description of each movement.
Valentina V. is an extended work for solo harp, immersive electroacoustic sound, and lighting, commissioned by Hope Cowan through a generous grant from the American Harp Society. The piece is inspired by my own musicological research into the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” and the provenance of the illuminated manuscript containing the song’s renowned pictographic musical score.
Valentina V. is conceived as a tragic monodrama in which the solo harpist adopts the persona of 14th-century noblewoman and virtuoso harpist Valentina Visconti (1371–1408). Research suggests that the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” by Jacob de Senleches — famous for its illuminated pictographic score — was likely composed as a vehicle to showcase Valentina’s prodigious musical talents. Married to the brother of the King of France, Valentina was eventually forced into exile after others at the royal court accused her of witchcraft. My piece presents an imagined scene near the end of Valentina’s life in which she is confined to her chamber with only her precious harp to confide in.
Valentina V. unfolds fantasia-like as its protagonist processes her grief through playing her beloved harp. Compositional materials are partly derived from “La harpe de melodie,” which is performed in full as the work’s penultimate movement. At other points in the piece, the song emerges in a fragmented, distorted, or embellished form, representing Valentina’s reminiscences as they are filtered through her fractured psyche.
Valentina V. is an extended work for solo harp, immersive electroacoustic sound, and lighting, commissioned by Hope Cowan through a generous grant from the American Harp Society. The piece is inspired by my own musicological research into the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” and the provenance of the illuminated manuscript containing the song’s renowned pictographic musical score.
Valentina V. is conceived as a tragic monodrama in which the solo harpist adopts the persona of 14th-century noblewoman and virtuoso harpist Valentina Visconti (1371–1408). Research suggests that the medieval song “La harpe de melodie” by Jacob de Senleches — famous for its illuminated pictographic score — was likely composed as a vehicle to showcase Valentina’s prodigious musical talents. Married to the brother of the King of France, Valentina was eventually forced into exile after others at the royal court accused her of witchcraft. My piece presents an imagined scene near the end of Valentina’s life in which she is confined to her chamber with only her precious harp to confide in.
Valentina V. unfolds fantasia-like as its protagonist processes her grief through playing her beloved harp. Compositional materials are partly derived from “La harpe de melodie,” which is performed in full as the work’s penultimate movement. At other points in the piece, the song emerges in a fragmented, distorted, or embellished form, representing Valentina’s reminiscences as they are filtered through her fractured psyche.
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Performances
Full work
Full work
- Faculty recital, Moores School of Music, University of Houston. Hope Cowan, harp. February 17, 2025
- MN Made Festival, Saint Cloud State University, Minnesota. Hope Cowan, harp. September 27, 2024
- Robert Avalon International Competition for Composers Concert. Midtown Arts and Theater Center, Houston. Hope Cowan, harp. May 3, 2024
- Florida State University Festival of New Music. Noël Wan, harp. February 1, 2024.
- Napoleon Electronic Media Festival, Eastern Illinois University. Julia Kay Jamieson, harp. January 30, 2024
- 32nd International Review of Composers, Belgrade, Serbia. Gorana Ćurgus, harp. October 6, 2023.
- SEAMUS National Conference, The DiMenna Center, NYC. April7, 2023.
- Electronic Music Midwest, Kansas City Kansas Community College. Hope Cowan, harp. March 11, 2023
- Giga-Hertz Award Concert, Zentrum für Kunst und Medien, Karlsruhe, Germany. Acousmatic version. November 26, 2022.
- Electric LaTex, Wortham Theater at Rice University. Hope Cowan, harp. November 4, 2022.
- Salvatore Martirano Memorial Composition Award Concert, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, IL. Julia Kay Jamieson, harp. September 29, 2022
- DMA Lecture-Recital — Wortham Theater at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University. Hope Cowan, harp. Timothy Roy, electronics. Chapman Welch, live sound. Kurt Stallmann, lighting. October 26, 2021.