Work is wigging you out, the family is running around in a hundred directions and your phone is buzzing, ringing and chirping nonstop.
Life can seem to be always on overdrive. But noted American composer Michael Torke's new work Last for solo violin and string orchestra offers a soundtrack to help listeners unwind and reflect in tumultuous times. The recording of Last, on Torke’s own recording label, Ecstatic Recordings, and features central Ohio violinist Siwoo Kim as soloist with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO).
Kim, who grew up in Westerville and is co-founder and co-artistic director of Columbus’ VIVO Music Festival, spoke about his experiences recording Last in a recent video interview. Kim had earlier led ECCO as concertmaster on a recording of one of Torke’s other works and became Torke’s choice as violin soloist for Last.
“I think what attracted me so much to this project (was) that (Torke) had such a clear idea of how he wanted this work to add to our current world, and he invites everyone to slow down,” Kim said.
On his website, Torke describes Last as “Twelve slow, moody compositions for solo violin and strings, that are almost like 2nd movements of violin concertos.” Each of the work’s movements bears a title with a nod to the past—for instance, Last Fall, Last Week, Last Wednesday—and lasts about three to five minutes. The movements also explore subdued emotions—some nostalgic, others refreshing, others romantic and dreamy. Listening to the complete work from start to finish is much like listening to a curated streaming playlist of contemplative, relaxing music.
“Usually slow movements of concertos are, like, eight to 14 minutes long. So, it’s like (Torke has) distilled everything already with the modern audience consumption habits and attention spans in mind but gives you complete experiences in each of the 12 movements,” Kim said. “But they all share the common thread of telling you, ‘It’s okay, slow down and feel.’”
As its title suggests, Last aims to inspire feelings of calm in the present moment with music that encourages listeners to integrate the past, through memory and acceptance, into the present.
“The Stoics recommend we live in the present: to fret over the past or stress about the future is counterproductive because these lie beyond our control,” Torke writes in his program note for Last. “But I think there are other ways to respond to the past. We can cherish and even mourn what is no longer present. For me, our past populates our present, whether it be last year, last month, last week, or last Sunday.”
The fragments of the past that occupy the present, Kim says, invite introspection and, as a result, become richer and more complex as our lives continue. For him, some of what Last and all artworks can do is open the door to our deeper humanity or even to healing.
“I think the arts are all about shared experiences of empathy,” Kim said. “Hopefully even wordlessly I’m able to convey the emotions of the composer. And perhaps someone who’s listening might have a strong connection from the feelings that are being expressed and have a moment of catharsis or healing or contemplation.”
