Note. I will release the score after the exclusivity in January 2026. You can browse the examples now from the Youtube playlist above.
Wildflowers - for two violins (2025)
in extended just intonation
with an introduction to just intonation and HEJI notation
I. Red - Brokenleaf Paintbrush (5-limit) - 45''
II. Green - Elkweed (7-limit) - 15''
V. Yellow - Twinberry Honeysuckle (11-limit) - 100''
IV. White - Jacob's Ladder (5-limit) - 30''
V. Blue - Aspen Bluebells (13-limit) - 80''
Total Duration: ca. 4'30''
Program Note:
Wildflowers is conceived as a pedagogical piece for violinists interested in exploring extended just intonation (JI)—a tuning system that, while sonically rich, presents a learning curve due to its mathematical foundations and unfamiliar notation. I’ve found that most expert violinists already have good ear for justly tuned sonorities. Once the precise intervallic relationships are made clear, they can play them intuitively. With this set of very short pieces, I wish to offer a fun and practical way to internalize these new intervals.
The pedagogical angle comes from violinist Salley Koo’s project, which called for two interconnected works: one for a professional chamber ensemble and a smaller pedagogical piece. Salley wanted to spark the students' interest in new music by engaging them first as listeners of the larger work and then as performers of the smaller one. In this context, the duet became a companion piece to my piano trio July Mountain. Two themes from the trio are recycled in the duet. The theme of Twinberry Honeysuckle originates from the trio's finale. It was originally conceived in extended just intonation and was adapted for 8th tone approximation in the trio—so, in a sense, the duet marks a return to its original intent. The theme of Jacob’s Ladder comes from the second movement of the trio, characterized by a light, playful texture made of pizzicatos and harmonics.
Thematically, Wildflowers draws inspiration from the alpine flora of Utah, where I spent a few summers hiking. While most movements are based on impressionistic responses to individual flowers, a few have more direct structural parallels. In Elkweed, the order in which intervals are revealed mirrors the number of basal leaves. In Aspen Bluebells, the microtonal shifts in the harmonies allude to the flowers’ transformation from purple to blue during blooming. (J.S.)
To listen to the sound examples, please follow this link:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzBXhUbfo9ZpPZG1RNQCeMxWecNqIn8hX&si=uWNIZ69qiCJLaWCU