Monstress - Clarinet Quartet

Quartet for three soprano clarinets and bass clarinet

"While composing Monstress, several images came to mind for inspiration. The first motives I composed reminded me of a vortex with spinning, turbulent fluid. This led me toward the idea of an imaginary female monster that would perhaps be able to create such a vortex. After giving her personality some consideration, I decided she was to be a fierce, cunning seductress. The enchanted monstress would also be agile, quick tempered, and beautiful, luring her prey with her haunting melodies. While she exists only in my mind, she lives through my music."

-- Theresa Martin