Colored Stones - Bassoon Unaccompanied

A note from the composer:

Colored Stones tells the story of three stones: smoky quartz, lapis lazuli, and tiger's eye. Some cultures and spiritual practices believe these stones have powerful qualities such as the ability to heal, protect, and offer spiritual guidance. The bassoon explores these beautiful stones' unique qualities.

It is an honor to be chosen as the winner of the 2014 Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition and to have this work premiered by Susan Nelson.

I. Smoky Quartz: An incredibly grounding stone, this smoky brown stone transforms and diffuses negative energy. The bassoon changes from a sense of grounding to playfulness, exploring htis balance of energy. In the end, it always finds its way back to telling the store of the grounding quality of the stone.

II. Lapis Lazuli: Prized for its colors, this deep blue stone was used by kings and queens in paintings and ceremonial robes. Believed to help foster truthful expression and communication, it supports the immune system and brings peace. The bassoon explores the luxurious blue color, mixing in flashes of gold found in the stone.

III. Tiger's Eye: Tiger's eye, a golden brown to deep red stone, is very grounding and can bring luck to ward off evil. The bassoon is sometimes "protective and seeing", moving quickly to remove the look of the "evil eye" and other times moving dreamily through an ancient landscape of protective energy.