SHIFTING/DRIFTING: Solo Violin Book

Reynolds writes for violin with an uncompromising artistic vision that demands serious technical and interpretive commitment from performers. This piece rewards violinists who embrace extended techniques and unconventional notation as creative opportunities rather than obstacles, making it essential repertoire for any advancing player interested in contemporary classical music.

The title "Shifting/Drifting" captures music that exists in states of flux and transformation. Harmonic centers blur and dissolve; techniques that seem stable shift subtly into new configurations, creating a constantly evolving sonic landscape that mirrors perceptual instability.

Advanced violinists and conservatory-level students pursuing contemporary classical repertoire will find substantial material here. Recitalists building modern music programs and chamber musicians committed to 21st-century works form the primary audience.

• Study the notation system carefully before rehearsing passages; Reynolds uses specific symbols to indicate extended techniques, and understanding his graphical language is foundational to accurate interpretation.
• Record yourself regularly during practice to assess intonation across wide intervallic leaps and unusual fingering positions that contemporary writing often demands.
• Attend to the relationship between bow contact point and dynamics; Reynolds frequently specifies where on the bow to draw sound, making this control element as important as left-hand precision.

Feature this on a contemporary violin recital alongside works by other living or recent composers to create programming that contextualizes Reynolds within the broader landscape of modern violin writing. It also serves as an excellent capstone piece for advanced studio students demonstrating technical mastery and interpretive maturity.

• Extended violin techniques including unconventional bow placements and left-hand articulations
• Reading complex contemporary notation and graphic scores
• Intonation and pitch control across wide intervallic leaps
• Interpretive decision-making in music with indeterminate or non-traditional performance instructions
• Stylistic authenticity in performing living composer works