Lake Stone Moon – Steve Heitzeg

Composer: Steve Heitzeg

Instrumentation: Solo Violin, a Lake Superior beach stone, driftwood, and a Tibetan singing bowl

Duration: Approx. 6 minutes

Date Written: 2017

Commissioned by: Ariana Kim in honor of Young-Nam Kim

Premiered by: Ariana Kim, violin; Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, Saint Paul, MN on 02/12/2017

Program notes:

I. Lake (Bow to the Water)
The violin bow is a metaphor for a paddle in a lake. Emphasis is on a very fluid
motion to evoke canoe or kayak imagery of gliding on water.

II. Stone (SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS)
The violinist as “violinist” in this percussive protest dance symbolizes the struggle
to preserve wilderness. The violinist interchanges violin bow with a piece of Lake
Superior driftwood to drum on a Lake Superior beach stone throughout the
movement.

III. Moon (Loss and Infinity)
In five rituals honoring the elements of nature, the violinist uses high harmonics,
trills, col legno tratto, bending of pitches and murmuring and insect-like sounds to
allude to the aurora borealis.
Violinist taps a Tibetan singing bowl at the opening and closing of this movement to
create a meditative mood.