Cosmic Rubber Band
(2024) 9' / for oboe and fixed media
written for Vicente Moronta and premiered by him in October, 2024 in Basel, Switzerland
composer's note
When I think of the oboe, I think of Vicente Moronta. And when I think of Vicente, I am amazed at how incredibly fast he can play – he is something of a John Coltrane of the oboe. I wonder how long he can sustain that tempo without a break. But that initial moment of inspiration is just the beginning: the composition I have in mind for him will be concerned with an internal dialog between the present moment and its resonance in our memory, both immediate and remembered. I intend to use a Reverse Play MAX patch along with recordings to create a continuous pulse of 576 bpm, uninterrupted by the need to breathe. In other words, Cosmic Rubber Band will be an eight-minute explosion of playful virtuosity that serves as a platform for Vicente to inspire and enrich his audience with his extraordinary musicianship. – Mike Svoboda