Crucible
for solo violin | 2008
Crucible, for solo violin, was for me a way to vent some frustration. It had been a rough semester and I needed to get this out of my system. A crucible is a vessel used for melting and calcining metal through exposure to extreme heat. It is used for the refining process. Another common use of the word is in relation to a severe trial or test that one experiences in life. The first section of the piece is a virtuosic, white hot moto perpetuo with unrelenting intensity, representing the struggle and aggravation. The second half is a slow and lyrical reflection, recalling the pain but recognizing that it is never without purpose: refinement.