Soprano and faculty artist Ah Young Hong (BM ’98, MM ’01, Voice) sings a haunting series of words-as-sounds to open “The Quiet Sound of Making Beds,” a setting of poet Kelly Xio’s “In Search of Blue Peonies” by composer James David Young (DMA ’14, Composition). In the liner notes for Caliburn, the album on which the song appears, the composer notes that all seven of its tracks are partially indeterminate, and Hong bends notes, barely whispers, musically mumbles, and otherwise makes artful decisions that add an intense intimacy to the piece. This moving and playful idea animates Young’s works here, which captures composition from the past seven years. The title track, a setting of Mike J. Maguire’s poetry performed by Allison Clendaniel (BM ’14, Voice), Jennifer Hughson (MM ’12, Clarinet), Sarah Manley (BM ’17, Trombone), Tyrone Page Jr (BM ’16, MM ’18, Saxophone; BM ’16, Music Education), bassist Robin Rhodes, and Young, is a dramatic low-end journey through intense emotions.
