Program Note

Music for me is an embrace of the world, a way to open myself to being alive in the world — in my body, in my sounds, and in my mind. I care deeply about musicality, imagination, craft, clarity, dimensionality, an elegant balance between material and form, and empathy with the performing musicians as well as everyone who works in and supports the presenting organizations.

While upholding the independence of the approximately 200 countries on planet Earth, I yearn to collaborate and celebrate the furthering of bridges and links that help to facilitate interdependence. Citizenship is both local and global. Every person has a unique identity. Our shared humanity is precious.

>Words that leap to mind when I think of the sun include universal, energy, qi, ripples, vitality, life, spirituality, hope, renewal, radiance, and braids of light. “Plaits”, “bridges”, and “links” all function both as nouns and verbs. The dimensional meanings and images of the combination of the four words propelled the spiraling invention and creation of Sun Plaits — Bridges and Links.

Across a 6-minute duration, the composition unfolds a labyrinth of musical interrelationships and connections that showcase the soloist in a joyous, virtuosic display of rhythmic agility, double-stops (playing 2 notes at once), counterpoint, energy, dynamic range, timbre, clarity, and majesty. Throughout the kaleidoscopic journey, the work passes through several lively and lyrical episodes, never losing its sense of radiance, effervescence, and expressiveness. The abundance of double-stops symbolizes “links” while the sparkling, fast-moving lines, which reach in all directions, fly out across the piece like “bridges.” Musical materials are braided in dimensional ways like “sun plaits.”

It is difficult to express how grateful I am to the University and to the many extraordinary colleagues who have made this project possible. Sun Plaits — Bridges and Links is dedicated with admiration and gratitude to the University of Chicago and Clarissa Bevilacqua. The world premiere, performed by violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua, took place at the Inaugural Symposium for the dedication of the John W. Boyer University of Chicago Center in Paris on November 15 2024.

— Augusta Read Thomas

MAP OF FORM AND AURA AS DRAWN BY THE COMPOSER

To obtain examination or performance material for this
Augusta Read Thomas work, please contact Nimbus Music Publishing.