MEDITATIONS (2019) for orchestra

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion 1 (Tubular Bells, Glockenspiel, Cymbals), Percussion 2 (Snare Drum), Percussion 3 (Bass Drum, Triangle), Harp, Strings

Duration: ~3 minutes

Performance/Recording History:

  • Recorded by the 2019 Interlochen Philharmonic at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Dr. Leslie B. Dunner, conductor.

Awards:

  • Received the 2020 Michigan PTA Reflections Outstanding Interpretation (1st Place) Award in composition

  • Received the 2020 National PTA Reflections Award of Excellence in composition

Program Notes:

When you hear the word “meditations”, you probably think of calm, tranquil introspection. This piece is all about introspection, except it’s not tranquil or calm (for the most part). To me, “Meditations” is a musical representation of the value of being content with what you have. But you may not hear it the same why I do, and you may not hear the same story, which is totally fine. All I ask is for you to engage in a little meditation of your own while you are listening.

The piece begins with a lushly-orchestrated D major chord. For the next 2 minutes and about 30 seconds, the music tries again and again to reach that D major chord, becoming more and more frustrated as we hit dead end after dead end, and eventually the music erupts in one last outcry in utter desperation, making one last futile attempt to reach D major once again. Finally, exhausted, the music stops begging and pleading for D major, and only then do we reach a more pleasant soundscape. We settle for A major, and although we are not technically “home”, we have reached a place a satisfaction and peace.

MEDITATIONS was written for the Interlochen Philharmonic and Dr. Leslie B. Dunner at Interlochen Center for the Arts. I am deeply indebted to my teacher at Interlochen, Dr. Carrie Magin, and all of the composition faculty and fellow student composers at Interlochen; without them, this piece would never have came into existence.

-Jonah Cohen, 2019