Still (Neuheit Ensemble)

Still (Neuheit Ensemble) Still for brass quintet was commissioned by and written for the Gaudete Brass Quintet, for whom the work was specifically conceived. It was premiered on October 25, 2013, during a live broadcast of Backstage Pass, hosted by Julia Figueras on the NPR station WXXI in Rochester. The piece follows an introspective approach, offering a sonic experience inspired by the early stages of meditation. It seeks to musically depict that particular moment when mental agitation begins to subside. Through refined textures, spacious phrasing, and a subtle exploration of timbre, Still gradually evokes a sense of inner calm. The music unfolds from a state of gentle tension toward a feeling of suspended time, where rhythmic and melodic landmarks begin to dissolve. This progression leads to a profound sense of stillness - an active quietness in which each sound finds its place within a space of calm and heightened awareness.