Chris Evan Hass: Black Diamond for Brass Trio

From the composer: 

"Embark on an exhilarating and vigorous journey down a brutal skiing slope in this composition for brass trio, Black Diamond! This piece outlines the mentalities and emotions felt when taking on any daunting challenge through shifting atmospheres and confidence levels reflected in diverse sections of music.

The true gravity of the grueling mountain is felt immediately in the piece in a section labeled ‘Manic Anticipation’, depicting initial jitters and lots of second guessing if this challenge is worth it. After some wonky mixed meter and sharp dissonances, we slowly start to get the hang of things through the introduction of a more grounded melody. But this confidence quickly gets to our heads causing us to make more impulsive and haphazard decisions, ultimately wiping out completely.

While laying down in the snow, we start to question if this journey is even worth it. We begin doubting ourself as a skier, as an athlete, and then even as a person, thinking “If I can’t do this, what can I do?”. But we decide to pick ourselves back up and start to work our way down the mountain yet again.

With a newfound sense of determination, we work towards the bottom of the mountain with a level head. Even with those doubts creeping in, we try to remember the thrill of overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles and why we subject ourselves to such ruthlessness. We find ourself in a complete state of flow, locked in to the task at hand without another care in the world. And through this perseverance and focus, we ultimately conquer the mountain."