Genesis of the Siren

Listen to the work here!
(Note: This work makes use of extended techniques for both bassoon and percussion, which are not all accurately reproduced by the MIDI audio linked above.)
 
Genesis of the Siren is a duet for bassoon and multi-percussion, which takes its inspiration and structure from author Nghi Vo’s historical fantasy novel Siren Queen. The percussion instrumentation is as follows: Xylophone, 29” Timpano, 3 Triangles (High/Medium/Low), Woodblock, Ocean Drum, Handbell (Any Pitch), Conch Shell Horn (Any Pitch).
 
Vo’s Novel tells the story of Luli Wei, a young queer Chinese-American woman hoping to achieve stardom and the literal immortality that comes with it, in an alternate pre-Code Hollywood where studio executives such as Oberlin Wolfe keep the film industry alive using dark magic and ritual sacrifice. Along the way she gains allies – skogsrå roommate Greta, starlet love interest Emmaline, and siren film series co-star Harry – and enemies, including most of Wolfe’s upper management. This work uses character themes (for Luli, Oberlin, Greta, Emmaline, and "The Siren") and their intersecting developments, as a film score might, to explore the story of Siren Queen, Vo’s magical world, and Luli’s ascension to stardom. Genesis of the Siren was commissioned by Makayla Rasmussen and Aiden Endres for the former’s graduate chamber recital at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Northern Iowa.