Jest(2025)[Violin and Piano]¶
The word jest refers to a joke or witty remark—something said or done for amusement. I first encountered the term through David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, a sprawling, postmodern novel known for its dense prose, dark humor, and satirical edge. The novel’s maximalism and layered irony have long resonated with me, particularly in how it juxtaposes profound complexity with light-hearted absurdity.
In Jest, I explore the idea of musical humor through virtuosic and whimsical means. The piece is dense and frenetic, weaving together Stravinskian angularity, clave-inspired rhythms, jazzy harmonies, bluesy expression, and baroque gestures into a tightly packed sonatina. Though its textures are often intense, Jest is ultimately playful at heart—a high-energy manifestation of my ongoing interest in music that laughs, teases, and dazzles all at once.
Jest was commissioned by Copland House for its CULTIVATE 2025 Emerging Composers Institute. It was premiered by members of the Copland House Ensemble — violinist Pala Garcia and pianist Margaret Kampmeier — on June 10, 2025, at Elebash Hall, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
CULTIVATE 2025 fellowships and commissions were supported by the ASCAP Foundation, BMI Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Friends of Copland House, Jandon Foundation, and NewMusic-USA. Additional program funding was provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, ArtsWestchester, Elzbieta and David Grove Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and New York State Council on the Arts.