Vision of Flight
Vision of Flight was commissioned by DR Pigekoret/the Danish National Girls’ Choir, with director Phillip Faber. The idea for this piece developed in partnership with a subset of the choir, which is comprised of singers ages 15-22. I am grateful to Ella Olympia Placing, Laura Rigillo, Emma Tingager, and Lea Vestergaard-Jørgensen for an in-depth, open conversation about how their experience as young women differs from that of their mothers’ generation, and the frustrations that remain. I am especially thankful to Laura Rigillo for her idea to give a positive spin to the feminism of the work, presenting an image of the egalitarian ideal. The poem that I wrote for this piece expresses how true equality for the sexes would empower men as much as women and individuals with more nuanced gender identities.
The lush harmonies combine triads with fifths of another sonority, putting a twist on the structures of Western tonality. The cello part, written for Henrik Dam Thomsen, builds in rhythmic vitality and drives the piece forwards. Sections of aleatoric repetitions for the choir are scattered throughout, lending transient fluidity.
Visions of Flight was premiered by DR Pigekoret/the Danish National Girls’ Choir and Henrik Dam Thomsen on May 26 & 27, 2022 at the DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen. There was a television broadcast of the full concert on Sunday, June 12th, 2pm Eastern (EDT)/8pm Central Europe (CEST). The score is now available for perusal and purchase.
