Iridescent Gest (2022)
from the composer
Iridescent Gest is one of the pieces commissioned for the phenomenal virtuoso cellist Matt Haimovitz. Iridescent Gest is an homage in many ways. The series of short solo cello works are companion pieces to painter Charline von Heyl’s “reimagining” of the enigmatic painting by Renaissance painter Botticelli, Primavera.
I was commissioned partway through the anticipated 81-composer project – after many pieces had already been composed, performed, and recorded; so when conceptualizing my contribution, I considered my piece as a part of a larger collection, as well as a free-standing work.
As I look upon the Botticelli painting, my eye is drawn to the three graceful figures mid-dance, just left of center. Seeing these figures gives me the feeling of joyous and uplifting movement. In the von Heyl, those three dancers are overlaid with whimsical Lichtenstein-esque rabbits and perhaps a dial or clock – perhaps the hint of a multiverse? The three beautiful dancers prancing through time – presenting here in the form of spotted rabbits – emerging and disappearing.
Iridescent Gest is my mini-homage to Matt, and virtuoso string pieces and multiverse jumping with the Primavera painting.
bio
Theater is that collective experience in which participants gather to understand both the richness and injustice of human experience; it is where together, we mourn and celebrate. Chen’s work strives to inform and engage, and to bring forth the reinvention of our expectations for our society.
Always fascinated by the expressive possibilities of dramatic forms, Taiwanese-American composer Justine F. Chen draws inspiration from animation, film, theater, classical Indian dance and music, ballet, and contemporary dance. Recent projects include a new chamber opera Seven Sisters with librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, a choral work for The Crossing on data-mining (text by Jena Osman), a short film opera on modern-day heroes with Jacqueline Goldfinger, a song cycle with the haunting poetry of Ophelia Hu Kinney, for soprano Jennifer Lien, an opera with librettist Jacqueline Goldfinger inspired by the oldest ballad Twa Sisters, and The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (librettist David Simpatico) commissioned by American Lyric Theater, which will be premiered by Chicago Opera Theater in March 2023.
She has been commissioned and performed by WQXR, The Crossing, New York City Opera, New York City Ballet, The Juilliard School, JACK Quartet, American Composers Orchestra, New York Festival of Song, Washington Ballet, Long Leaf Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Tapestry Opera, Banff Music Centre, Merola Opera, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.