American composer Martha Mooke, “acclaimed for her electrifying performances and compositions, is a pioneering electric violist/composer, highly regarded for her artistry, music advocacy, and innovative educational programs. She transcends musical boundaries, enhancing classical training with extended techniques, technology and improvisation.” Her collaborators range from David Bowie to Philip Glass to Rahzel and many others in a panoply of genres. Her path-breaking work has earned her numerous awards and honors, as well as a continued stream of commissions and collaborations. She is a Yamaha Concert Artist, founder of the Scorchio Quartet, and Director of the Multi-Style Strings program at New Jersey City University. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and read more about her at her website, Yamaha, the MacDowell Colony, IMDB, Audeze, and ASTA. Her YouTube channel features many highlights of her diverse performance career.

Kayomatique was commissioned by the Kingswood Oxford School in 2017. From Mooke’s program notes on her website:

Kayomatique (the title is a combination of Kingswood Oxford and the word cinematique), is a journey of sound, an exploration of perception and intention. The music begins with the mystery of time, pausing for commentary or thoughtful speculation on where it’s been and what lies ahead. It is at times serious, then playful, adventurous, wild, festive!

Experience the sonic textures, a rainbow of sound colors, a new language communicated between instruments. Through improvisation, the players add their own unique voices to the soundtrack ­ exploring expression, communicating through sound.

Kayomatique is intended to be performed twice, once with the concert band as written, and the second time with optional solo improviser and expanded improvisation.

Shannon Shaker and the Frostburg State University Wind Ensemble play the ensemble version:

Here is the premiere performance by Todd Millen and the Kingswood Oxford Band with Mooke as soloist:

See more about the piece at Mooke’s website and the Wind Repertory Project.