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Songs for Fallow Fields has been performed in Cologne, Montréal, New York City and Utrecht…

Songs for Fallow Fields was written in two parts: the first two movements as I faced a diagnosis of infertility and the seeming reconfiguration of my life’s plans, and the latter two in the early stages of a joyously surprising pregnancy. The auspices of its creation, within a microtonal workshop, allowed me to focus on a harmonic language that suggested more ambiguity and complexity, as well as necessitated a certain rhythmic and textural simplification of my usual language. The short movements are largely homophonic and repetitive, an exercise in dialing back expectations and practicing joy with caution.

[ii-24] [quatuorbozzini.ca]

Premiere

  • February 20, 2024, Harmonies inouïes, Salle bleue — Édifice Wilder — Espace danse, Montréal (Québec)
  • May 7, 2024, Premiere of the complete work: Acht Brücken 2024: Concert, Trinitatiskirche, Cologne (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)

Songs for Fallow Fields

  • Composer(s): Bekah Simms
  • Year of composition: 2023-24
  • Instrumentation: string quartet
  • Commission: Acht Brücken | Musik für Köln, Quatuor Bozzini, with support from the CCA
Movements
Video
  • Recording: Bekah Simms: Songs for Fallow Fields; Bozzini Quartet; Time Spans 2024: Bozzini Quartet: Lang, Simms, Tenney; Saturday, August 17, 2024; 19:23
  • Recording: Bekah Simms: Songs for Fallow Fields; Bozzini Quartet; Harmonies inouïes; Tuesday, February 20, 2024; 13:11
Concerts
20 Febr 2024
7:30 pm
Série QB
BattahDufour-LaperrièreGriffinSimms
In person Sorry, sold out
Montréal (Québec)
7 May 2024
8:00 pm
DavachiMedekšaitėSimmsTenney
In person
Cologne (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
17 Augu 2024
7:30 pm
LangSimmsTenney
In person
New York City (New York, USA)
10 Sept 2025
7:45 pm
Di CastriHaighSimms
In person
Utrecht (Netherlands)