for string orchestra
Portraits of Manchac (2004) for string orchestra
I. Cypress in Morning Mist
II. North Pass Over Marepas
III. The Abandoned Lighthouse
Portraits of Manchac was inspired by the photographic images by Julia Sims in her Manchac Swamp, a photo journal book capturing the environment and landscapes of the swamps of Manchac in Southeast Louisiana.
The photos in Sims’ book are very personal to me because they bring back sentimental feelings and images that I used to see during my daily commute to college from New Orleans to Hammond using the interstate that beautifully overlooks the Manchac and Lake Marepas area. It seems only fitting to musically portray some of these photos captured by Julia Sims, combining them with my own personal interpretation and experience. Originally, the piece was composed for a small chamber orchestra in 2000, but after revisions and the addition of some compositional material, this version better represents my intentions to musically portray the images of Julia Sims.
The first movement, Cypress in Morning Mist, represents a large photo on page 104 of Manchac Swamp which shows a landscape of tall cypress trees among the swampy waters in the early morning. Musically, I thought it would be interesting to portray the subtle growth of the cypress knees that barely emerge from the water – represented throughout the piece by a descending and ascending chromatic gesture found often in the double bass. A foreshadowing of motives that will develop later in the piece are also heard toward the end of this movement.
The second movement is inspired by an image on page 123 of Manchac Swamp that captures sunset at the North Pass of Lake Marepas. The main theme clearly presents the motive that was implied in the first movement, while musically depicting an Eagrette (a pelican-like bird) as he flies gracefully over a spacious Lake Marepas.
The final movement is based on a photo on page 77 of Sims’ book that shows an abandoned lighthouse in the distance during sunset on Lake Pontchatrain at Pass Manchac. A somber theme and simple texture here hopefully portrays the lonely character of the alienated lighthouse that was once a shining beacon among the lake.
Virtual Orchestra realization by https://www.fiverr.com/posthumousccs
Below is the audio of all three movements combined together as it is intended by the composer, and as it would be presented in a concert setting.