The Voices in Maximilian's Head

The Voices in Maximilan’s Head is a composition for soprano voice and percussion that focuses on the interchange of the instrumental roles of the two instruments. Over the duration of the piece, the soprano’s melodic lyrical lines transform into jagged percussive lines. At rehearsal marking F, the soprano completes its full transformation as a percussive role by mimicking rhythmic phasing. Let it be known that true rhythmic phasing is not achieved in the soprano part because there is only one rhythmic pattern active. To achieve this mimic of phasing, it is highly important that this section be performed with rhythmic accuracy (except for rehearsal marking G, where rhythms can be performed freely). Unlike the soprano, the percussion waits until rehearsal marking D to abruptly transform into an expressive and lyrical role. The main objective for this composition is to create a disruptive amount of tension through pitch clusters, microtonal textures, silence, and rhythmic phasing but deny a release of this tension.

The text is inspired by a true story of a young man who is diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early twenties. The mental disorder rapidly corrupts his wellbeing as voices consume the life he once knew. Over time the disorder muddles his memory until finally he can no longer remember his life before the illness.