Janghyun Thomas Kim: EQQUS for Solo Double Bass (2020)

Program Notes

Janghyun Thomas Kim wrote Equus, an unaccompanied double bass piece for his good friend John St Cyr. They were both born in 1990–the year of the horse in the Chinese Zodiac. Their connection with the year of the horse combined with the desire to tell the story of the horse inspired him to write Eqqus.

The work is in seven sections:

1. Halo – Depicts a horse on a hill with the sun shining behind him

2. Gallop – The horse runs with other horses, this section reoccurs throughout the piece

3. Respite – The horse gets tired and the horses take time to rest, then the gallop section returns

4. Lonely Leader – Being a leader is lonely, a melancholy melody followed by the gallop theme

5. Horse Dance – The horses are enjoying each other’s presence with animated movement

6. Calm Before the Storm – The leader knows a conflict his coming, he is introspective and preparing himself mentally

7. Finale – The horses are fighting and the leader ends victoriously

BIO

Janghyun Thomas Kim is a Louisiana-based clarinetist and composer.

He is a Doctoral Musical Arts candidate and a graduate teaching assistant at Louisiana State University. As a composer, Thomas plans to create works that will expand the solo repertoires of various instruments. He also enjoys collaborating with performers internationally. His pieces have been performed in Europe, Asia, and North America. His first composition, Destin, a programmatic work for solo clarinet portraying his experience in Destin beach, was selected to be performed at Carnegie Hall in October 2020. He studies composition with Dr. Mara Gibson at LSU.

Thomas received his Bachelor of Music from the Catholic University of Korea, and his Master of Music from Southeastern Louisiana State University in U.S.A, where he held a Graduate Assistantship.

Connect with Janghyun: website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube.