Mood, for alto saxophone and French horn, was written for Dr. Jennifer Blackwell and Mr. Brian Kavolius-Matherne. I was honored to have both Jen and Brian involved throughout the entire creative process—from inception to final revisions. Together, we explored how to bridge visual art and music in a way that embodied the aloha spirit. We eventually chose the vibrant street art of Kakaʻako as our creative starting point.
After I had submitted the initial draft, Jen and Brian offered insightful suggestions. These included revoicing specific phrases an octave lower for better balance and clarity. Brian also proposed an alternative ending. This kind of collaborative dialogue is a rare and luxurious opportunity for any composer.
The piece was inspired by Mood, a mural by Ms. Kris Goto. I was immediately captivated by its mysterious ambiance and the romantic image of a closed-eyed girl with two fish winding through her hair. To better understand the work, Ms. Goto generously shared the following statement:
“I did this piece on a small hard paperback in 2013. I revisited the piece in 2019 so that I could give them a larger surface to swim in. Also, I felt like she deserved more attention. Personally, this is one of many pieces I've worked on that changes its meaning from time to time. I was originally inspired to make this piece in 2013 to illustrate what it felt like to be distracted from what you need to do in life to get to where you need to be. It was right around the time I decided to become a full-time artist - a scary transition I need to take. In hindsight, I'm grateful that I jumped. When I worked on the mural in 2019, it was telling me to chill out and take a break - swim with the fishes and let the current take you. Very different from back in 2013.”
Inspired by this evolving interpretation, I composed two contrasting passages representing the two fish—each with distinct tempos and characters. The melodies are primarily diatonic and “sweet,” reflecting the mural’s dreamlike tone, while interspersed with moments of dramatic tension.
This piece is a step in my journey toward becoming a risk-taker, much like Ms. Kris Goto.