PATRICK GUTMAN
COMPOSER
CONCERT SELECTIONS
For Tomorrow Promises Light
I began writing For Tomorrow Promises Light near the end of March 2020, shortly after the lockdown started in America due to Covid-19. Even though the world was experiencing much fear and uncertainty during this time, I felt inspired to write a song that would give hope and light during this unprecedented time.
As I continued to write the song over the next few months, the meaning of the song continued to expand into new contexts as social and racial injustices ensued on top of the virus. It seemed that the world, and particularly America, was turning upside down, and as a composer the only thing that made sense to me was to write music that came from the heart, that focused on the possibility of a better tomorrow.
I chose to have the singers perform the song a cappella, as I wanted it to be something that people could sing anytime, anywhere, and without needing instruments to support them. In this way I felt that the performance of the song would have a more unified feeling of togetherness and community with voice alone. After all, the whole world was going through the pandemic together even if we were socially distant and physically apart.
The song was finished in July of the same year and recorded in August. My intention was and still is to spread any bit of love and light through sharing this song. It is also a reminder that even though life can seem dark and challenging at times, there is always hope and a promise for a better tomorrow.
Singers: Amanda Achen, Patricia Jewel, Jon Lee Keenan, Luke Carlsen, Cole Cuomo Recording/Mixing: Luke Lucas
Play - Etude
When I began composing Play-Etude I had an idea of an electric current that would underlie the entire piece, a pulsing kinetic energy that would be driving the music forward. As I composed the opening section I realized that this moto perpetuo rhythm, seen as a constant stream of eighth notes running throughout the piece, would be a fun yet challenging aspect for the performers of this work. In this way the piece resembles an ‘etude’ for the ensemble. As the piece progresses this energy stream is disrupted through chords, silences, rhythmic contrast, and short bursts of melodic fragments. The ‘play’ aspect of the piece comes from the playfulness of the music, and a sense of spontaneity that exists within it. Additionally, I felt the instrumentation and overall sound of this ensemble resembled a modified rock, jazz, or pop ensemble. With this sound in mind the musical language of this piece references sound worlds akin to jazz and rock music.
*This piece was commissioned by the Hugo Davise Fund for Contemporary Music at the University of California, Los Angeles. It was premiered by NOW Ensemble on May 6th, 2017 in Los Angeles, Ca.