In Turba - SSAATTBB, a cappella
Winner of the Opus 7 2017 Composition Competition, Graduate Student Level.
Text
In Turba (Latin) = In a crowd
La contaminación acústica (Spanish) = Noise pollution
Verwarring (Afrikaans) = Confusion
Shum (Russian) = Noise
Aiutami! Non riesco a trovare me stesso! (Italian) = Help me! I can't find myself!
Crowded places! Different faces!
I don't like crowds. I get tense at concerts, sporting events, or big cities. I feel trapped when surrounded by too many people. This song captures my angst while being in a crowd. The different languages are used to represent the idea that crowds are also made of individuals, each engrossed in their own worlds, their own thoughts, their own conversations. Just like being alone, though, being part of a crowd can be a breathtakingly beautiful experience when each individual concentrates on bringing their thoughts into one.
This song is the third movement in the larger piece Semper Solus In Turba. This is a motto I came up with for myself in 2016 which translates to "Always Alone in a Crowd." I feel this way a lot - the feeling of being an outsider or lonely, even in the midst of a large group of people.As I thought more about this motto, I came to realize that it means a lot more than that.All of us have those qualities about us that make us unique in a crowd. Semper Solus In Turba therefore became a celebration of our individuality. Be proud of who you are and embrace what makes you...you!
See and hear the sheet music by clicking here.
Watch a performance by the University of Washington Graduate Cohort Ensemble by clicking here.