Should the Stars Align (2020) by Matthew Osterholzer

Almost every composer has at least a handful of "COVID pieces," and Should the Stars Align is one of mine. I wrote, learned, and performed this piece by myself after about half a year of lockdown, and was lucky enough to record it through the University of Michigan's virtual Imprint concert series: one of the few in-person activities available to me at the time. The work is inspired by the literal imagery of the night skies and ideas of alignment/misalignment, but also by the sense of vague optimism communicated by the phrase "should the stars align," as I tried to maintain my own positive outlook through the events of the pandemic and the upcoming American election.

Performed by Matthew Osterholzer at the University of Michigan's Stamps Recital Hall