STEFAN
(b. 1977)
"Music is a uniting of people; that is its ultimate goal: its ultimate raison d'etre is to make people feel united by contributing -- either actively, in performing, or emotionally, in attending a performance of a work of art." - Alexander Tcherepnin
Stefan Tcherepnin is the son of Ivan. Stefan writes, "Along with some 'classical' training here and there, my musical activities have ranged from experimental/noise bands to electro-acoustic free improvisation to piano/chamber music. I also paint with watercolors quite often. My paintings tend to melt into three dimensions and depict a side of myself which I am unable to express through music or words. Music-making is like my heart and soul, and painting is like my left hand." Stefan began formal composition studies in 1997 under John Clement Adams at Boston Conservatory and currently attends Oberlin Conservatory.
The New Simplicity is a series of melodies, each derived from one another, elaborated, transformed, layered and cut up. The combination of consonance and dissonance is carefully treated. The piece is a sort of timeline upon which the consonance and dissonance are like characters in conflict with each other, their surroundings and themselves. Throughout, many conflicts are resolved and new ones arise. Finally, one wonders if one has found peace, if one shall ever find peace, and what it means to have "found peace." - notes by composer.