Ombra (Performing Score): Soprano & Viola Full Score

Ombra refuses easy answers about music and language, instead using the mezzo-soprano voice as an instrument of pure expression stripped of semantic meaning. The dialogue between voice and viola creates an intimate, emotionally urgent work that rewards careful listening and illuminates what happens when the structures we depend on to communicate begin to fail.

Ombra surrounds you with circling, incomplete gestures that feel like fragments of memory or perception just beyond grasp. The mezzo-soprano and viola move between moments of crystalline unison and divergent paths, creating a soundworld that is simultaneously intimate and unsettling, grounded in human vulnerability yet reaching toward something transcendent.

Mezzo-sopranos and violists seeking substantial contemporary solo or recital material, as well as singers trained in classical technique who want to expand into works that prioritize vocal expression beyond traditional lyrical contexts. This work suits concert settings that program mixed ensembles and experimental or narrative-driven programming.

• Treat the vocal line as an equal partner to the viola throughout, not as an accompanimental layer; the unison passages in Ombra I demand precise rhythmic alignment and shared phrasing despite the different instrumental characters.
• Explore the drama of silence and space between phrases; the work's three-part structure suggests distinct emotional territories, so allow transitions to breathe rather than smoothing into continuous sound.
• Coordinate closely with the sound design option if you choose to include it; the acoustic version stands complete on its own, but if using accompaniment, ensure it supports rather than overwhelms the core duet.

Program Ombra in a recital or concert that pairs contemporary chamber music with literary or conceptual themes; its 40-minute duration and dramatic arc make it substantial enough to anchor a program section or stand as a complete half of an evening. The work's engagement with loss and altered perception pairs thoughtfully with other vocal or chamber pieces exploring identity, language, or neurological experience.

• Extended vocal techniques and non-traditional text setting (vocalise without lyrics)
• Precise rhythmic synchronization between voice and string instrument across frequent unison and complementary passages
• Interpretive choices in abstract, narrative-driven contemporary music without traditional harmonic or structural guideposts
• Sustained vocal expression and phrasing over an extended single-work format (40 minutes)