Mixim

2018 - String Quartet

Mixim was written at a crossroads in my life, when the future seemed dangerous and uncertain. The world felt so complex, and I was suddenly inspired to write a minimalist piece. I wanted something that took a breath and washed over the listener with its simplicity. When times were difficult, I would take a break and listen to this work in order to remove negative feelings and remember that everything would eventually balance out. Mixim is a palindrome: as the piece slowly reveals itself, it builds to a brief climax before turning around and mirroring back to the end. Simple ideas take on a new form when reversed, yet the essential character of the piece does not change. Life eventually finds balance, just like this work.

​

The work was premiered on October 25, 2019 at Cornell College. The performers were Andrew Gentzsch (Violin I), Alex Norris (Violin II), Michelle Bennett (Viola), and James Ellis (Violoncello).