Meditation & Calligraphy

Program Note Excerpt: "Between April and June, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a residency at Civitella Ranieri, a 15th Century castle in Umbria, Italy. During my time there, I had the privilege of meeting G. Mend-Ooyo, a remarkable Mongolian poet and calligrapher who deeply fascinated me.

Curious to witness his artistic process, I asked Mend-Ooyo to share his work with me. He surprised me with two exquisite calligraphies, skillfully executed in black, red, and pencil on a backdrop of yellow and gold paper. One bore the Mongolian symbol for music, while the other showcased symbols of fire and water. 

I inquired, 'How do you create such incredible calligraphies?' His response struck me deeply: 'Meditation, meditation, meditation...for a very long time…then calligraphy with very quick gestures.' I found this method profoundly poetic.

Shortly thereafter, renowned flutist Claire Chase arrived at the castle to collaborate on my piece Parábolas na Caverna and perform a solo concert. Grateful for the enriching experiences, I decided to express my gratitude by composing a small piece for them both. I embarked on an imaginative journey, meditating on the general character of a solo bass flute work throughout an entire evening. Upon awakening, I promptly transcribed my creative thoughts in less than 30 minutes, capturing the essence of my musical vision.

In shaping the composition, I took inspiration from the letters of G. Mend-Ooyo's name, which served as the starting point for the pitch material: G (sol), Me (E flat, from solfège), D (re), and Do (C)." — Felipe Lara

Text Painting: Felipe Lara uses music to represent the calligrapher G. Mend-Ooyo's artistic process. The long, meditative phrases represent meditation (first Notable Passage), followed by rapid accented notes, which may represent pen strokes on paper (second Notable Passage)