MELIA WATRAS: A BRAZEN BUTTERFLY ALIGHTS
for solo viola, harp and strings (2021)
Photo by Michelle Smith-Lewis
World Premiere: Melia Watras, viola solo; Valerie Muzzolini, harp; David Alexander Rahbee, conductor; University of Washington Symphony Orchestra; April 29, 2022, Seattle, WA
Duration: 6:46
Program Notes:
A brazen butterfly alights takes its title from a line in the poem Song: An Endless Flight by Herbert Woodward Martin, poet extraordinaire whom I’m grateful to call a longtime family friend. Herb dedicated the work to me and my husband, Michael Jinsoo Lim, and, on the occasion of our wedding, included it in his memorable reading. My piece is an exploration of the different worlds I find myself in when hearing, reading and ruminating on this poem.
A brazen butterfly alights is written in gratitude and dedicated to Herbert Woodward Martin, the fantastic harpist Valérie Muzzolini and expert conductor David Rahbee. Valérie’s generosity in sharing her knowledge of the harp was instrumental in the creation of the work, and I am always so excited to share the stage with this world-class performer. David has been lauded as a five-time winner of the American Prize for Orchestral Programming, and I am thankful to him for including A brazen butterfly alights and providing it with its premiere.
—Melia Watras
A brazen butterfly alights was recorded for an album to be released on Planet M Records by Melia Watras, viola; Valérie Muzzolini, harp; David Alexander Rahbee, conductor; and the Brazen butterfly ensemble:
Violin I: Michael Jinsoo Lim (concertmaster), Jennifer Caine Provine, (assistant concertmaster), Annika Kounts
Violin II: Sol Im (principal), Heewon Park, Liza Zurlinden
Viola: Erin Wight (principal), Kayleigh Miller, Daniel Stone
Cello: Eric Han (principal), Olga Ruvinov, Christopher Young