Fougère (2020) – J. M. GERRAUGHTY

Fougère (2020)
(World premiere)
Composed by J. M. Gerraughty

Performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble

Program Notes:
J. M. GERRAUGHTY: Fougère
Fougère takes its title from the world
of fragrance, and the olfactive
“family” of the same name. From the
French, meaning, “fern,” a fougère
fragrance is noted for containing a
common notes of lavender, coumarin
(tonka bean), and oakmoss. Other
notes are added to augment this
accord, depending on what the
perfumer is looking to achieve.
Fougère is no different, with its own
distinctive profile of notes: bergamot,
citrus, lavender, basil, coumarin/Hay,
cardamom, oakmoss, and vanilla.
While not meant to be a perfectly
linear experience, these notes depict
the evolution of a fragrance over time,
where the more volatile compounds
of a fragrance dissipate, meaning
notes at the top of this list will cease
to be detectable, and notes from
the middle and bottom of the list will
come to the fore. Eventually, the only
thing that will be able to be smelled
will be the bottom-most notes,
right next to the skin (called a “skin
scent”). In perfumery, this evolution is
referred to as a “dry down.”
The analogs to musical structure in
the language of perfumery (the use
of “notes;” the tendency to group
them into “accords;” and the use of
larger structures such as Top Notes,
Mid Notes, and Base Notes) drew me
to explore ways that the structure of
a fragrance could map backward
onto musical structure. Fougère starts out fast, bright, and hyperactive,
and slowly loses momentum,
mellowing and darkening and losing
more and more energy until there’s
nothing left.

Composer Bio:
JASON MICHAEL GERRAUGHTY
(b. 1982) grew up playing brass
instruments in community bands,
drum and bugle corps, musical pits,
and orchestras in small-town New
England. These influences instilled
a desire to create music of value
to both amateur and seasoned
listeners. A central tenet of his work
is combining innovative approaches
to form, color, and texture with
direct and intuitive musical frameworks.
Gerraughty harvests new and
peculiar blooms from his music’s
roots in the classical tradition.
Gerraughty holds a PhD from Stony
Brook University, but works outside
of music. He has found himself on
an indefinite hiatus from composing,
which has been healing. He hopes to
pick up a pencil again one day soon.


INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY
ENSEMBLE:
George Lewis, artistic director
Jerry Hou, conductor
Josh Modney, violin
Yezu Woo, violin
Wendy Richman, viola
Ashley Walters, cello
Evan Runyon, bass
Isabel Lepanto Gleicher, flute
Noah Kay, oboe
Emmalie Tello, clarinet
Joshua Rubin,
contrabass clarinet
Alexander David, bassoon
Nicolee Kuester, horn
Sam Jones, trumpet
T. J. Robinson, trombone
Clara Warmaar, percussion
Wesley Sumpter, percussion
Jacob Greeenberg, piano
Nuiko Wadden, harp