WORLD PREMIERE - Clara by Kaitlin Webster Zuber (2023)

WORLD PREMIERE - Clara by Kaitlin Webster Zuber (2023)
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“The creative artist recognizes their strengths and their weaknesses and discovers a rewarding balance by allowing both to influence their work.” ~ Kaitlin Webster-Zuber

Born: 2000, Los Angeles, California

Clara was composed applying the musical game of the alphabet-to-musical-pitch cypher. This age-old compositional tactic is similar to Ravel’s Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn, with the constraint being to come up with the five-note motif for my solo piano piece: simply reattaching the musical pitches in order, “CLARA” becomes the musical notes “CEADA.” Clara is of Latin origin, meaning “bright, clear.” The piece aurally captures the impression of a lighthouse on a cliff. At the beginning of the piece, you will hear a bright, clear motif representative of the lighthouse, from which Clara’s theme emerges as the murmuring ocean waves near the shore. As the narrative continues, Clara’s theme is developed in contrasting colors, textures, and moods within a delicate harmonic sound world. Finally, the lighthouse motif returns, guiding a musical path into a serene landscape.
Clara is written for my niece, Clara Rose Murphy, born on December 30th, 2022.

Spring Solo Recital
Hannon Theater, Mount Saint Mary's University
Sunday, April 2, 2023