Cabinet of Curiosities (score & parts) - 3BSN/CBSN

Cabinet of Curiosities
for three bassoons and contrabassoon

by Kincaid Rabb (b.1993) - American composer 

ABOUT THE MUSIC:

Prior to the Age of Enlightenment in 17th and 18th century Europe, cabinets of curiosities were curated collections of objects from the natural or ancient world that appeared to be special, unique, or otherwise compelling. At a time when conversation was a primary form of entertainment, these collections gave their owners opportunities to shape conversation, delighting their friends and family with an assortment of interesting things. These could include gems, flowers, animal skins, shells, fossils, art, and more — anything that could inspire curiosity. 

Cabinet of Curiosities is a work for bassoon quartet that embodies this practice of curating a collection. From the sheer scale of the swordfish skeleton to the uncanny way that ridges of bismuth develop, Cabinet of Curiosities is an opportunity to examine the peculiar in musical vignettes, each inspired by objects within an imagined collection of the wondrous. 

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

Kincaid Rabb (b. 1993, they/them pronouns) is an award-winning writer and music-maker, working at the intersection of storytelling and new music. Kincaid is an artist-scholar whose research includes musical narratology, emotional catharsis, and the phenomenon of the theme park as inspiration. Using narration, worldbuilding, and a strong sense of fun and play, Kincaid creates musical experiences that immerse audiences into intimate spaces and that reward waders, swimmers, and divers alike. Kincaid produces works that trapeze artistic disciplines, curating performances that seamlessly integrate different sensory experiences and create lasting memories through relatable stories. 

Kincaid’s collaborations have included Paradise Winds, The _____ Experiment, the Driftwood Quintet, Kontra Duo, Keyed Kontraptions, Duo R2, the Brelby Theatre Company, and the faculty and students at the University of Arizona and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Kincaid is a founding member of Basket of Owls, an ensemble of musician-narrators dedicated to curating spaces for unheard stories, and flourish! new music ensemble, an ensemble committed to sparking joy in new music. Their principal teachers have included Douglas Harbin, Daniel Asia, Pamela Decker, Diego Vega, and Jennifer Bellor. 

Currently residing in Tucson, Arizona, Kincaid graduated with a Master of Music in Composition in 2021 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where they held graduate assistantships in theory, composition, and musicology. They graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Music in Composition in 2017. Kincaid is a member of the Millennium Composers Initiative, is affiliated with ASCAP, and is published with Trevco Music. Kincaid can usually be found at Scented Leaf in Tucson, Arizona, sipping on a matcha lemonade, watching the world go by and writing their next adventure into music.

For more information about Kincaid and their music, please visit www.kincaidrabb.com