Brittlebush - FL/BSN/GTR

Brittlebush
for flute, bassoon, and guitar
by Becky Turro

Duration: c. 4’30’’

ABOUT THE MUSIC:

The brittlebush is a southwestern plant with silver-green leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom during late winter / early spring. When I first moved to Tucson in February 2022, I was immediately drawn to this vibrant plant. As the seasons change to summer and fall, the silver-green leaves fade into a brittle newspaper-yellow, making space for other breathtaking desert flora. While writing this piece, I was energized by the memory of arriving in Tucson to start a new chapter of my life, surrounded by the silver-greens and yellows of the brittlebush. I thought it was very fitting that my friend Pedro would be visiting Tucson for the first time during brittlebush season. This piece is dedicated to Pedro Lopes Baptista, Cassandra Bendickson, and Mindi Acosta for their performance at Steinfeld Warehouse on February 6th 2024.  

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

BECKY TURRO  (b. 1997, New Jersey) has become known for creating works that are “incredibly serene and so evocative.” (Kari Landry, CityBeat). As a gender-queer composer, and having grown up in the Appalachian area of northern New Jersey, their music often draws inspiration from ideas of transformation and natural landscapes. They believe that art is created for two reasons: as a means to marvel at the world’s beauty, or as a suggestion for change. 

Turro’s music has been performed across the United States by ensembles such as the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Kalliope Reed Quintet, Fifth House Ensemble, subtle cheetah, and the Denison Symphony Orchestra. In addition to Trevco Music, Turro also has music published under Akropolis Works. 

Turro received their BM in Composition from Rutgers University in 2019, and completed their MM in Composition from Ithaca College in 2021, studying under Robert Aldridge, Jorge Grossmann, and Evis Sammoutis. 

For more information, visit beckyturrocomposer.com