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.