Valhalla (2022)

Valhalla is dedicated to those who fight losing battles.

In Norse mythology, Valhalla refers to a majestic hall in Asgard, created as a form of the afterlife devoted to warriors who perish in battle. Those who die in combat live among legendary heroes in Valhalla until they all return to fight during the final conflict, Ragnarök.

My personal interpretation of the definition of battle transcends merely physical conflict; it includes battles with illnesses, mental health, and addictions. As such, the people that we see every day may be engaging in difficult personal battles around us. This piece is dedicated to those who fight losing battles behind closed doors.

In my piece Valhalla, there are several distinct sections that represent peace, battle, and mourning, primarily centered around a fragmented melody introduced by the viola solo. This piece takes inspiration from the music of movies and video games like Black Panther and Horizon Zero Dawn, as well as composers like Béla Bartók.

Valhalla was written as a collaboration between the Chamber Music Program and the Composition Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.